In the playoffs, a team’s destiny is under it’s own control. In the opening game of the WIAA Division 3 Sectional 4 boys basketball state tournament playoffs, took control of the game’s destiny early and handed Palmyra-Eagle a 65-48 loss Tuesday night at USM.
USM only trailed once, but after junior Greg Booth made a lay up to put USM ahead 5-4, he and his fellow Wildcats never looked back. With an aggressive man-to-man defense that the Panthers found recalcitrant, USM grabbed rebounds, blocked shots and forged ahead. Booth led the way, scoring six of the Wildcats’ next seven points to give USM a 12-6 lead.
USM head coach Mike Snyder complimented his team’s effort. “Simply put, defense creates offense. Our guys wanted a home playoff victory and went for it.” The result of USM’s lead was not aleatory but due to basic hustle and hard work at both ends of the court.
Leading 12-8 at the start of the second quarter, the Wildcats kept going. Booth, juniors Josh Baker and Tommy Pennington, senior Jason Pickart, and freshman Djdade Denson made shots, and USM suddenly had a 24-14 lead. Late in the quarter, with USM leading 26-17, Pickart made 2 three-point shots sandwiched around a jump shot by Baker in less than a minute, and USM had a commanding 34-20 lead at halftime. The smothering Wildcat defense made Palmyra-Eagle’s floor shooting look otiose during the second eight-minute period. The Wildcats surrendered only 3 field goals and during the quarter. Due to their in-your-face defense, the Wildcats did give the Panthers 16 chances from the free throw line. The Panthers sank 7 of them.
It was clear that destiny was in USM’s favor by the start of the third quarter, and the Wildcats continued the game’s trends, outscoring Palmyra-Eagle 18-9 in the period. Denson scored 6 points; Baker and Addison each scored 5 points; and Booth added 2 more for USM. Senior Kevin McGivern had 4 points on a free throw and a three point shot; senior Shane Houk drained a three pointer; and senior Dan Meyer sank a two-pointer for the Panthers.
Things ameliorated for Palmyra-Eagle a bit in the 4th quarter when the Panthers outscored the Wildcats 18-13, but it was too little too late. McGivern led the way for the Panthers scoring on 2 field goals and a three point shot. Houk scored 5 points; senior Dan n Meyer put in a three-point shot; senior Eric Merrimer had 2 points; and senior Brian Kelly scored 1 point for Palmyra Eagle. USM got 4 points on a field goal and 2 free throws from Denson, 3 points from senior Grant Close, and 2 points from Pennington, Pickart, Booth and junior Adam Salaymeh, and a free throw by Baker.
After the game Snyder was properly proud of his team. “Everyone did a good job. We had a balanced attack.” The scoring numbers for the Wildcats bore his claim out. Booth led USM with 15 points. Pickart scored 14 points; Denson scored 13 points; and Baker scored 12 points. Addison added 5 points, Pennington contributed 4 points; Close had 3 points; and Salaymeh had 2 points. McGivern led the Panthers with 16 points. Meyer scored 11 points; Houk and junior Tyler Trolola each had 5 points; and Merrimer, junior BJ Peardon, and sophomore Alex Kelly each had 2 points.
Palmyra-Eagle’s season came to a conclusion with the loss. The Panthers’ final record was 6-17. USM improved its record to 15-8. The 7th seeded Wildcats continue their season at 7:00 p.m. Friday when they travel to East Troy to play the Regional’s number 2 seed.
Editor's Note: Thomas Geilfuss is the sports information coordinator for USM.
