Men, women teams end season with wins
Matt Daniels
Issue date: 2/24/10 Section: Sports
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There were eight lead changes and five ties in the first half alone. At halftime, the two teams broke even, tied 46-46 after Bobby Komorowski hit a pair of free throws for the WolfPack with 13 seconds left in the half.
The two teams came out scorching hot as Madison College shot 58.1 percent from the floor for the half and DuPage shot 61.5 percent.
The Chaparrals were starting to pull away with six minutes left in the first half when first-year guard Antowan Epps stepped up and hit a 3-point basket and got fouled. He proceeded to hit the free throw and finish off the four-point play and cut the Chaparral lead to four.
Komorowski started off the second half with a 3-pointer to give the WolfPack the lead for good. Six minutes into the second half, they used a 9-0 run to build a 12-point lead but DuPage battled back and with 1:53 left in the game, the Chaparrals cut the lead to just three after Andrius Simulis drilled a 3-point basket. The WolfPack hit their free throws down the stretch and were able to hold off the Chaparral rally.
Sam Wilkinson's season-high 30 points led Madison College to the postseason implemented victory. Komorowski added 28 and Epps pitched in with 14.
Madison College, the No. 3 seed, plays Harper College in the first round of the Region IV tournament held in Joliet, Ill. on Feb. 23. The WolfPack split the season series with the Hawks, with each team winning on the other's home court.
After losing three straight games, the WolfPack needed the win over DuPage to build some momentum heading into the post season.
"Going into the tournament, you want to be playing your best basketball," said men's assistant coach Todd Johnson. "This is an important time of year, regardless of what your record is. In the conference tournament it's vital for you to hit a stride."
Editor's note: The Clarion went to press Feb. 22 and the outcome of the men's basketball game on Feb. 23 was unknown.
The Madison Area Technical College women's basketball team avenged their only regular season loss in the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) against the College of DuPage Chaparrals on Feb. 20 at Jam the Gym. With the dominant 74-60 win, the WolfPack improved to 26-3 and 13-1 in N4C play. They also posted an 11-0 record at home.
In their first matchup against DuPage, the WolfPack lost 32-30. They put up season lows in points scored and field goal percentage (13.8 percent). The WolfPack women have not lost since leaving Glen Ellyn, Ill. On Jan. 26 and are riding an eight-game winning streak into the postseason.
They got off to a much better start in their second go-round against the Chaparrals. They led 28-14 at halftime, scoring one less basket than their entire first game against DuPage.
Early in the second half the Chaparrals cut the WolfPack's lead to just 2 points, 34-32 after a Jamie Ashley Campos 3-pointer, but the WolfPack got back to work and rebuilt their lead behind a 12-point effort from Gabi Hungerford and Morgan Lass over a three-minute span.
The WolfPack were led in scoring by Hungerford's and Thresia Elskamp's 18 points apiece. Mya Flentje put in a stellar performance and got things going early. She scored eight of her 11 points in the first half, dished out five assists and had a game-high seven steals.
The Region IV tournament is held in Joliet, Ill. Madison College clinched the No. 1 seed in the tournament and a first-round bye last week when they defeated Joliet Junior College 81-78 on Feb. 13. They play the winner of the Rock Valley College and Joliet Junior College game on Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m. The WolfPack are a combined 4-0 against Rock Valley and Joliet this season.
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