The Clarion

Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Larry Chua Bobby Komorowski takes the Rock Valley double team head on in a game on Feb. 9.

The WolfPack had been holding their opponents to 29.7 percent shooting from 3-point range all season long. The Milwaukee Area Technical College Stormers, the 2-seed in the tournament, unexpectedly let it rain 3-pointers all day in the rubber match against the WolfPack in Joliet, Ill. A trip to the Region IV championship game was on the line this time.

In two games against Madison Area Technical College in the regular season, the Stormers were a combined 9-for-41 from beyond the arc. On Feb. 25 against Madison College, the Stormers hit nine 3-pointers in just 15 attempts during their 76-67 victory over the WolfPack, the tournament's 3-seed.

Alex Schofield led the 3-point charge for Milwaukee. He was a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point land and finished the game with 14 points. He scored three points in the first matchup and was held scoreless in the second game against the WolfPack.

The Madison College defense held the Stormers' leading scorer Christopher Hortman scoreless in the first half, but he broke free in the second half and scored 14 points.

Head Coach Scot Vesterdahl was surprised at how well Milwaukee shot the ball but did not make excuses. He wanted to avoid giving the catch-and-shoot Stormers any good looks early. In turn, he wanted to see his defense force Milwaukee into putting the ball on the floor. The Stormers were able to get some good looks early and never cooled off.

"In tournament games you can't do those kinds of things," said Vesterdahl. "You have to be true to your scouting report. Make kids do something else to beat you. Don't let them play to their strengths."

Coming into the tournament the WolfPack lost at home to Harper College. Vesterdahl felt that his team did not perform to the best of their abilities. That feeling didn't stick around long as Madison College closed out the season with a tough home win over College of DuPage.

The WolfPack earned the opportunity to go up against Harper College for a third time this season. Madison College played with a high level of energy and passion in their solid 70-51 win over the Hawks. The same level of play was there against Milwaukee, but it wasn't enough to stop the Stormers who were on fire from 3-point range. Every game is hard-fought in the North Central Community College Conference (N4C) and this game was no different.

Continued...

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