ALBANY - Tuesday night's outcome was not the way Albany coach Derik Doescher drew it up for the Albany boys basketball team in a WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal against Heritage Christian.
Albany was plagued by 20 turnovers and shot just 28 percent in the second half (7-for-25), and No. 12 seed Heritage Christian upset the fifth-seeded Comets 55-49. Albany junior Isaiah Shell scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the first half. The Patriots limited Shell to 3-for-9 shooting and seven points in the second half.
"I thought our intensity was lackluster from start to finish," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "(Heritage Christian) came off a long road trip focused, ready to win and pull off an upset and they did it."
Doescher was aware that overcoming 20 turnovers is a tall task.
"You can't do that in the tournament and win," he said.
Shell drilled a 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 14 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, to slice the Patriots' lead to 47-45. There were no miracle finish, though, as the Patriots answered with a three-point play by senior Zach Angles to extend the lead back to five points. Angles scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Patriots. Shell and freshman Tyler Dahl missed jumpers in the final minute that could have cut the Patriots' lead to three points.
Heritage Christian (6-17) entered the tournament with just five wins, but they play in the Midwest Classic Conference in Milwaukee and face several larger Division 1 and 2 schools like Brookfield Academy and Messmer.
"When they play Division 5 teams, it is much easier for them than it normally is," Doescher said.
Early on, the Comets (9-14) looked like they would be up to the challenge. Albany junior Grant Schoenenberger scored and Shell banked in a shot to give the Comets a 6-0 lead. The Patriots went on a 7-0 spurt after that. Angels hit two 3-pointers in the first half to spark his team. The Comets switched to a 2-3 zone late in the first quarter.
"We knew No. 33 (Angels) and No. 42 (Ben Draeger) were their two shooters," Doescher said. "We played a man and he (Angels) hit a 3 on us. We played a zone and he got an open look and hit it. We went to a 2-3 zone to give them a different look."
Angles knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:20 left in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 26-18 lead. The Comets responded, closing the second quarter with a 14-3 run. Shell drilled a 3-pointer and the Comets got a big lift from senior Tyler Van Dusen. Van Dusen scored eight of his 12 points in the first quarter to help rally the Comets.
Van Dusen was playing his first game since suffering a knee injury early in the season.
"(Van Dusen) gave us that spark," Doescher said. "He gave us some scoring and rebounding. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough guys feed off his senior leadership."
Heritage Christian junior Zach Thompson scored 10 points and junior Ben Draeger had nine. Heritage Christian junior Jon Koehler had three straight steals to start the third quarter.
The Patriots went on a 7-0 run late in the third quarter. Thompson scored on a layup and Angles hit a fade away jumper. Heritage Christian sophomore Kyle Angles scored on a layup to give the Patriots a 40-36 lead with 2:02 to go in the period. Shell knocked down a jumper late in the third quarter to tie the game at 40. That set the stages for the fourth quarter.
Doescher wasn't satisfied with the season.
"To be honest, it was a disappointing season," he said. "We have enough guys who have been around on this team. We started out the season 1-7 and then we started winning some games. I don't know if we deserved the No. 5 seed or not."
With just two seniors, the Comets will have the bulk of their team back next year. Doescher isn't buying the fact that his team is young and up and coming.
"People want to say that we are young, close and on the cusp," Doescher said. "We are not close or on the cusp. We have a lot of work to do. It comes down to how hard they want to work. If we put in average work we will have an average season."
Albany was plagued by 20 turnovers and shot just 28 percent in the second half (7-for-25), and No. 12 seed Heritage Christian upset the fifth-seeded Comets 55-49. Albany junior Isaiah Shell scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the first half. The Patriots limited Shell to 3-for-9 shooting and seven points in the second half.
"I thought our intensity was lackluster from start to finish," Albany coach Derik Doescher said. "(Heritage Christian) came off a long road trip focused, ready to win and pull off an upset and they did it."
Doescher was aware that overcoming 20 turnovers is a tall task.
"You can't do that in the tournament and win," he said.
Shell drilled a 3-pointer with 3 minutes, 14 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, to slice the Patriots' lead to 47-45. There were no miracle finish, though, as the Patriots answered with a three-point play by senior Zach Angles to extend the lead back to five points. Angles scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Patriots. Shell and freshman Tyler Dahl missed jumpers in the final minute that could have cut the Patriots' lead to three points.
Heritage Christian (6-17) entered the tournament with just five wins, but they play in the Midwest Classic Conference in Milwaukee and face several larger Division 1 and 2 schools like Brookfield Academy and Messmer.
"When they play Division 5 teams, it is much easier for them than it normally is," Doescher said.
Early on, the Comets (9-14) looked like they would be up to the challenge. Albany junior Grant Schoenenberger scored and Shell banked in a shot to give the Comets a 6-0 lead. The Patriots went on a 7-0 spurt after that. Angels hit two 3-pointers in the first half to spark his team. The Comets switched to a 2-3 zone late in the first quarter.
"We knew No. 33 (Angels) and No. 42 (Ben Draeger) were their two shooters," Doescher said. "We played a man and he (Angels) hit a 3 on us. We played a zone and he got an open look and hit it. We went to a 2-3 zone to give them a different look."
Angles knocked down a 3-pointer with 5:20 left in the second quarter to give the Patriots a 26-18 lead. The Comets responded, closing the second quarter with a 14-3 run. Shell drilled a 3-pointer and the Comets got a big lift from senior Tyler Van Dusen. Van Dusen scored eight of his 12 points in the first quarter to help rally the Comets.
Van Dusen was playing his first game since suffering a knee injury early in the season.
"(Van Dusen) gave us that spark," Doescher said. "He gave us some scoring and rebounding. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough guys feed off his senior leadership."
Heritage Christian junior Zach Thompson scored 10 points and junior Ben Draeger had nine. Heritage Christian junior Jon Koehler had three straight steals to start the third quarter.
The Patriots went on a 7-0 run late in the third quarter. Thompson scored on a layup and Angles hit a fade away jumper. Heritage Christian sophomore Kyle Angles scored on a layup to give the Patriots a 40-36 lead with 2:02 to go in the period. Shell knocked down a jumper late in the third quarter to tie the game at 40. That set the stages for the fourth quarter.
Doescher wasn't satisfied with the season.
"To be honest, it was a disappointing season," he said. "We have enough guys who have been around on this team. We started out the season 1-7 and then we started winning some games. I don't know if we deserved the No. 5 seed or not."
With just two seniors, the Comets will have the bulk of their team back next year. Doescher isn't buying the fact that his team is young and up and coming.
"People want to say that we are young, close and on the cusp," Doescher said. "We are not close or on the cusp. We have a lot of work to do. It comes down to how hard they want to work. If we put in average work we will have an average season."
