Boys basketball: Athletics score first postseason win since 2010
Published 9:49 pm Thursday, February 19, 2015
Lyle-Pacelli’s Jordan Cotter helps pressure Bethlehem Academy’s Avery Hunt during the second half of their Section 1A West playoff game Thursday night in Lyle. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
LYLE — The Lyle-Pacelli boys basketball team had to battle though the night, but it was able to get past Faribault Bethlehem Academy in a Section 1A West quarterfinal game in Lyle Thursday.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Braden Kocer gets the finger-roll in the second half against Bethlehem Academy in the Section 1A West Playoffs Thursday night in Lyle. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The No. 3 seeded Athletics hung on to win 57-54 after FBA eighth grader Jack Clark, who had 20 points, missed a 3-pointer as time expired.
It was LP’s first playoff win since 2010 when LP assistant coach Brady Stier was playing for the Athletics.
LP’s Noah Jiskra made the biggest play of the night when he pulled down an offensive rebound and converted a 3-point play to put the Athletics (18-8 overall) up 52-49 with 1:53 left in the game and LP led the rest of the way. Jiskra, who was battling an illness and didn’t practice Wednesday, scored 17 of his 18 points and he grabbed five of his six rebounds in the second half.
“[The first half] was frustrating,” Jiskra said. “I took a little break and settled down in the locker room. In the second half it was a whole new game and I and to change the intensity.”
No. 6 seeded FBA (9-18 overall) pulled to within 55-54 when Peter Clark hit a 3-pointer with 18 seconds left in the game, but LP’s Braden Kocer hit two straight free throws with 13.2 seconds left.
The Athletics had trailed 40-32 halfway through the second half when LP bounced back. Jiskra hit a 3-pointer to make it 40-37 with 10:09 left in the game and he eventually tied the game up at 49-49 when he converted a lay-up with 2:56 left in the game.
Lyle-Pacelli’s Noah Jiskra looks to pass out of pressure against the press of Bethlehem Academy Thursday night during their Section 1A West playoff game in Lyle. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
“For [Noah] to put the sickness aside and kind of put us on his back a little bit was great to see,” LP head coach Dean DeBoer said. “It was everybody [stepping up] and it was maybe the most team effort we’ve had as far as a victory goes.”
LP’s Kocer also had a big second half as he scored 14 of his 16 points in the second frame. Kocer, who grabbed eight rebounds, did most of his damage inside.
“The spacing was really wide open with their press. There were a lot of alleys to drive through, and I’m better at driving than shooting,” Kocer said. “We worked really hard to get here. At the beginning of the year we wanted to win our side of the conference and get to Rochester. It feels so good to complete that.”
The first half was a struggle for both teams on the offensive end, but FBA had a 13-5 lead with 6:16 left in the frame. LP freshman Trinity Anderson came up with the first field goal of the night for the Athletics when he hit a 3-pointer to make it 13-8 with 5:30 left in the game. LP pulled within 20-19 at the half when Jordan Cotter hit a 3-pointer with 20 seconds left in the frame and Jordan Hart hit two free throws with 1.5 seconds left in the half.
LP will now play No. 2 seeded Blooming Prairie (15-10 overall) in the Section 1A West semifinals in Mayo Civic Auditorium in Rochester Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
“Now you have to set new goals and we’ll address that tomorrow at practice,” DeBoer said. “You can’t settle when you get there. We feel like we have nothing to lose and hopefully we’ll open it up a little bit and play carefree.”
FBA 19 35 — 54
LP 20 37 — 57
LP scoring: Noah Jiskra, 18; Braden Kocer, 16; Jordan Hart, 9; Jordan Cotter, 7; Trinity Anderson, 6; Lee Bauer, 1; free throws: 62 percent (21-for-34); rebounds: 27 (Kocer, 8); turnovers: 21
