ATLANTA - Chuck Chandler wouldn't be offended if you likened his Wisconsin Power basketball team to a lump of coal entering the second round of the 16U Tournament of Champions.
Chandler's squad, comprised primarily of local players, turned to diamonds when immense pressure was applied. After knocking off Cincinnati Elite, 50-41, in the first round of the 32-team bracketed tourney, the Wisconsin team faced the consensus favorite to win the title, the Washington D.C. Heat.
The Heat, an inner city club that Chandler admitted was more athletic up and down the roster, darted out to a 10-1 lead before a 2-3 zone slowed down its locomotive-like progress.
"At that point we were either going to make fools of ourselves or make a game of it," Chandler said, as about 40 Division I college coaches watched the game.
(The Heat) were just so fast and if we played them five times, they'd probably beat us four times."
The Power squad took its first lead early in the second half as Pecatonica junior Kimee Chandler, Chuck's daughter, hit an improbable 3-pointer off glass.
Chandler's been playing field general with grace and precision, and the banker had to make her father chuckle and wonder.
"At that point, we thought the stars might just be aligned, that it just might be our day," Chuck Chandler said.
Monroe junior Ashley Hermanson was a force inside as usual, scoring in double digits. But the Power supply lay in the fact that anyone can get hot at any time.
"Our concept is good shot, better shot, best shot," Chandler said. "We've really bought into that recently and it's paying off."
The Power pulled away for a 64-52 victory and faces the All-Iowa Attack National squad today with a trip to the final four at stake. Should the Power win two games today, they'll play in Saturday's championship game.
Chandler's squad, comprised primarily of local players, turned to diamonds when immense pressure was applied. After knocking off Cincinnati Elite, 50-41, in the first round of the 32-team bracketed tourney, the Wisconsin team faced the consensus favorite to win the title, the Washington D.C. Heat.
The Heat, an inner city club that Chandler admitted was more athletic up and down the roster, darted out to a 10-1 lead before a 2-3 zone slowed down its locomotive-like progress.
"At that point we were either going to make fools of ourselves or make a game of it," Chandler said, as about 40 Division I college coaches watched the game.
(The Heat) were just so fast and if we played them five times, they'd probably beat us four times."
The Power squad took its first lead early in the second half as Pecatonica junior Kimee Chandler, Chuck's daughter, hit an improbable 3-pointer off glass.
Chandler's been playing field general with grace and precision, and the banker had to make her father chuckle and wonder.
"At that point, we thought the stars might just be aligned, that it just might be our day," Chuck Chandler said.
Monroe junior Ashley Hermanson was a force inside as usual, scoring in double digits. But the Power supply lay in the fact that anyone can get hot at any time.
"Our concept is good shot, better shot, best shot," Chandler said. "We've really bought into that recently and it's paying off."
The Power pulled away for a 64-52 victory and faces the All-Iowa Attack National squad today with a trip to the final four at stake. Should the Power win two games today, they'll play in Saturday's championship game.
