Oostburg Ousts USM from State Tournament

In a Division 3 Sectional 4 Regional game played Saturday at Oostburg High School, the fourth-seeded Oostburg boys’ basketball team knocked fifth-seeded University School out of state tournament playoff contention. The Flying Dutchmen defeated USM, 65-41.

Mike Snyder, USM’s head coach, succinctly summed up the game. “Oostburg shot 'lights out' tonight, and, unfortunately, that ended our season.”

A look at the game’s statistics reiterated Snyder’s comment. The Flying Dutchmen hit on 55% of their shots from the floor, compared to the Wildcats’ 46%. They took 10 more shots than the Wildcats did in the contest. Oostburg also sank 4 of its 7 free throw attempts, whereas USM did not score on either of its two free throw attempts. The Dutchmen’s defense also made the Wildcats commit 11 turnovers.  Meanwhile, Oostburg only turned the ball over 5 times during the game.

“Those guys are solid fundamentally,” continued Snyder.  “They are disciplined and run their system very well.  I was proud of the effort our guys displayed against them tonight.  We left everything on the floor.”

The Wildcats started well and only trailed Oostburg by three at 17-14 at the end of the first quarter.  Senior Josh Baker led the team with six points in the quarter.  Sophomore Djdade Denson added four points and seniors Greg Booth and Tommy Pennington each contributed two points.

The Dutchmen flew through the second quarter outscoring the Wildcats 13-5 in the period.  Oostburg used a tight 2-3 zone and kept the Wildcats outside.  Unfortunately for USM, only two outside shots made it through the hoop.  Denson scored a three pointer and a two pointer for USM’s only points.

The Wildcats trailed 30-19 going into the second half, and they tried, but they could not slow Oostburg’s machine.  The Dutchmen out scored them 21-14 in the third quarter.  Denson had five more points, including a three pointer.  Senior Adam Salaymeh put through a three point shot.  Sophomore Billy Lawton and Baker each score two points for USM as well.  

Oostburg’s stingy defense continued to bedevil the USM shooters in the final eight minutes.  The Wildcats scored ten points.  Sophomore Julien Addison and Baker each canned a three point shot, and Pennington and Booth both scored two points for the Wildcats. Oostburg clinched the victory with 14 fourth quarter points.

In the game Oostburg’s 6’9” junior Josiah VerVelde scored 23 points to lead all scorers, and senior Brad Prinsen scored 21 points.  Denson led the Wildcats with 14 points.  Baker scored 11 points; Pennington and Booth each scored 4 points; Salaymeh and Addison had 3 points apiece; and Lawton scored 2 points.

Oostburg is now 19-4 and continues on in the playoffs.  USM ended its season with a fine 15-9 record.  After the game Snyder said, “It was sad to see the seniors play in their last game, but they have been unbelievable role models and have truly brought boys basketball at USM to a new level.”  He is already looking forward to next season and feels that the underclassmen will show that they learned well from the departing seniors.