USM Trumped by East Troy 75-49

In the Regional semi-final of the WIAA Division 3 Sectional 4 state tournament playoffs, the number 7 seed, , lost to the number 2 seed, East Troy 75-49 Friday night at East Troy.

USM had one lead all night.  Sophomore Julien Addison sank a jump shot at the start of the game to put the Wildcats ahead at 2-0.  The Trojans soon evened the score, and after three-point shots by junior Myles Olsen and senior DJ Sweet, they had a firm seven-point lead at 12-5, and led 19-11 at the end of the first quarter.

The Trojans had a distinct advantage of height with 6’7” junior Tanner Plomb and 6’8” sophomores Brad Prahl and Alex Prahl in the forecourt.  During the game the Trojans out-rebounded the Wildcats 34-21 and scored 40 points in the paint, while allowing USM only 28 in the same area at the other end of the court.

The Wildcats were game, however, and kept East Troy’s lead in the twelve to seven point margin throughout the next two quarters.  USM actually won the second quarter 20-19.  Addison drained 2 three-point shots and sank 2 free throws in the quarter.  Junior Tommy Pennington sank two field goals and 2 free throws; junior Lane Stanford put in a three-pointer ands senior Jason Pickart canned his two free throw attempts.  East Troy countered with 8 points by sophomore Nate Dodge, and 4 points apiece from the Prahl brothers and Plomb.

The teams tied the third quarter 13-13.  Plomb led East Troy with 6 points; Brad Prahl had 4 points; and Sweet drilled another three-point shot.  Junior Josh Baker helped USM keep pace with 6 points in the quarter; Stanford sank another tree-pointer; freshman Djdade Denson sank 2 free throws; and Pickart added 2 points to USM’s total.

East Troy clearly showed who was in charge of the game in the fourth quarter, galloping away with a 23-6 score in the final eight minutes.  They scored 10 on free throw shots.  In the quarter, Brad Prahl led the Trojans with 6 points, Sweet, Dodge and Plomb each had 4 points and Alex Prahl added 2 points.  USM got 4 points from Addison and 2 from junior Adam Salaymeh.

Overall in the game, Brad Prahl led the scoring with 22 points.  Plomb had 16 points and Sweet had 10 to lead the Trojans.  Addison led USM with 14 points.  Denson had 10 points; Baker had 9 points; Stanford had 6 points; Pickart had 4 points; Pennington, Salaymeh and junior Greg Booth each had 2 points.

East Troy is now 22-1.  They face the regional’s number 1 seed Racine St. Catherine’s in the regional final on Saturday.  USM ended its season at 15-9, but the Wildcats’ coach Mike Snyder was encouraged by the play of his younger players and is already looking forward to the 2011-2012 season.