SPASH Takes Down West Allis for Turn at Championship
By Ken McKenzie
The SPASH Panthers earned their way into the Division 1 WIAA State Boys Basketball final game Friday night in dominating fashion, burying West Allis Central 63-39.
They’ll now advance toSaturday night’s final game of the 100th anniversary edition of the WIAA State Boys event to face the Germantown Warhawks, winners over Madison East in the nightcap by an 82-54 score.
The championship match-up also pits the top two teams in the state against each other as Germantown brings their undefeated 27-0 mark and three consecutive gold ball string with the SPASH Panthers determined to break that streak on Saturday.
The Panthers used their aggressive defense and strong rebounding to set the tone and shot the ball with confidence all night, finishing 50 percent from the floor (22/44) and 11 of 20 from beyond the arc; a Division 1 record for most three-pointers. They also were a perfect eight for eight from the free throw line in Friday’s contest.
“Overall, the guys played very well tonight,” said Coach Scott Anderson. “We got the starts on the defensive end that sparks our offense and we seemed to play closer to our normal style of ball at the end of the first and into the second quarter. We’re best when we’re in ‘attack mode’ and fearless on both offense and defense.”
Joey Hauser shook off any freshman jitters he may have been feeling in tipping in a shot on an early possesion to give the Panthers the lead they never relinquished. Jamison Kryshak added a three after a long, deliberate possession before West Allis Central answered on a pair of hoops by the Bulldogs scoring leader, Brandon Key. Tyler Maten split a pair of free tosses; giving the game its only tie at 5-5 at 3:29.
Sam Hauser drained a trey from the top of the lane and Evan Mallek later got loose for a layin to finish the quarter at 12-7.
SPASH really opened things up in the second frame as Joey Hauser hit a three-pointer and another field goal; followed by twin treys by Sam Hauser and Trev Anderson gave the Bulldogs even greater pain with yet another three-pointer as Ted Kearney’s rebound and possession extender gave Anderson the second chance shot for 26-13 lead.
Andrew Ruzek added a basket at 3:35 and Anderson hit another trey from the top right arc as the Panthers went inside-outside with Anderson then getting a late clean look for a score inside three seconds to halftime to earn the 33-16 lead at the break.
Sam Hauser opened the third quarter with a jumper and Ruzek got another rebound and second chance hoop to push the margin to 37-18. Anderson added a three-pointer from the top and a pair of free throws to pad the lead further and then buried yet another three at 2:44 for a 45-22 lead.
Sam Hauser added a rebound bank shot and a pair of free throws and then scored off a nice assist from Ruzek and a 51-24 overwhelming advantage to end the third quarter.
The Panthers worked their possession with controlling weave and when a shot opened up, Kryshak hit another trey and Ruzek chipped in another put-back basket. Anderson and Sam Hauser each hit twin free throw offerings and TJ Schrank splashed the net with the record-setting trey at 2:31; giving SPASH their biggest lead of the contest before the Central reserves connected on a couple of threes to cut into the final margin of 63-39.
Joey Hauser 7, Andrew Ruzek 6, Jamison Kryshak 6, Sam Hauser 19, Trev Anderson 20, TJ Schrank 3, Evan Mallek 2.