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Sports

Knights Knock Off Angels in Defensive Battle

Dominican grabs sole possession of first place with big conference win.

The Dominican boys basketball team is known for an offensive arsenal that averages more than 60 points per game in conference play, but the Knights know they can play defense, too.

Led by senior forward Iman Johnson, the Knights cranked up their defensive intensity in the second half, smothered Racine St. Catherine’s offense to allow just four made field goals after the intermission and won the battle for first place in the Midwest Classic Conference, 40-30.

That defense was the key to the game, said Dominican head coach Paul Wollersheim said. “Both games we played – we held them to 28 the first game and 30 this game. Our guys worked to really defend them well.

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“The last two games we didn’t defend very well, but tonight I told the guys, that’s the way you play the game,” Wollersheim said.

Dominican (16-3 overall, 13-0 MCC) was up just 27-26 seconds into the fourth quarter when its switched around its defensive formations and applied more pressure down.

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On a double-team in the corner, Johnson helped force a turnover, sprinted down the court and threw down a two-handed jam that brought the crowd to its feet.

“At that point, I felt like it was time to pressure, and we could get them at that moment,” Johnson said. “We worked on that in practice, and I just said let’s get him, and we got him, and it helped us with the win.”

A layup by junior Sam Starke a little over one minute later capped an 8-0 run for the Knights that all but sealed the game.

The Angels (16-2 overall, 10-2 MCC) kept it close down the stretch with senior Chris Souter and junior Jordan Fouse hitting back-to-back jumpers for St. Cat’s, but Dominican sophomore Duane Wilson scored on a runner with 2:18 left to end any hopes of a comeback in this one.

“Offensively, we shot 27 percent, and we were one for nine in the third quarter, and we just didn’t look to shoot,” St. Catherine’s head coach Bob Letsch said. “We’re just not a good offensive team. We’re a hell of a defensive team, I tell ya. We’re one of the best defensive teams around, but offensively (we struggle) against a good team.”

The win puts Dominican in control of its own destiny as it moves into sole possession of first place with a two-game lead and just three games left.

“(This win) was huge,” Wollersheim said. “We have to go on the road against Racine Lutheran who, really you can toss a coin when it comes to Racine Lutheran, Racine St. Catherine’s and Dominican, all three could win on any given night against each other. We knew we were going to have our work cut out for us the last game of the year, so to get this win is huge.”

Said Johnson, “This is the biggest win. This is what we’ve been working all season long, all off-season, all the time, is because we talk about St. Catherine’s and getting this win versus them. We’ve been working hard and hard work pays off.”

Dominican heads to Martin Luther on Friday night before its final home game of the season Saturday against Shoreland Lutheran.


Racine St. Catherine’s: 7-12-5-6 — 30
Dominican
: 10-9-8-13 — 40
 
Racine St. Catherine’s: Boehm 1 4-4 6, Erickson 1 0-0 2, Fouse 3 2-4 14, Grycowski 0 0-0 3, Rittgers 0 0-0 3, Souter 1 0-0 2.
Dominican
: Johnson 3 0-0 6, Jordan 1 0-0 2, Starke 3 1-2 7, Taylor 3 2-2 11, Wilson 4 3-3 14.
 
3-pointers: Racine St. Catherine’s: Fouse (2), Grycowski, Rittgers. Dominican: Taylor, Wilson.

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