Class 2A: Wildcats' second-half surge nabs title

After advancing to the Class 2A championship game via a last-second block Friday evening, New London-Spicer had to turn around and play for the title Saturday afternoon.

In addition to calming themselves down once back at the hotel, the Wildcats coaching staff also had to get 18 teenagers settled, then watched game tape on Crosby-Ironton until about 4 a.m.

Despite the hectic schedule, whatever they planned worked -- eventually. Down by four at halftime, New London-Spicer roared back in the final 18 minutes and came away with a 59-51 victory over the Rangers.

The championship is the Wildcats' first in their fifth appearance at state.

"They gave us some runs for our money, but we got the last run of the game and that's what counted," New London-Spicer's Skylar Wachter said. "We picked up defensively in the second half, boxed out like the coaches told us to and got the key rebounds. Then it was just getting the open shots."

In a battle of teams with one loss combined entering the game, New London-Spicer (33-1) and Crosby-Ironton (32-1) played a fast-paced first half. The Rangers took the early momentum, up by as many as eight at 23-15 with 6 minutes, 55 seconds to play before the half.

Right out of the gate in the second half, though, the Wildcats stormed back.

A jumper by Erik Tengwall with 10:07 to play made it a 40-38 game and New London-Spicer never looked back.

"Still right now, it's a little surreal," Wildcats coach Matt Cordes said. "There's no doubt it's a special moment. The boys, they worked it out."

Wachter led the Wildcats with 19 points and Erik Tengwall added 11. Chris Tengwall had 14 rebounds.

Joe McLaughlin paced the Rangers with a double-double, 13 points and 11 rebounds. It's a Crosby-Ironton team that faces uncertainty in the future that has nothing to do with the team's eight seniors.

For financial reasons, all extracurricular activities at the school could be cut for next season.

"The tears that these kids have are tears they earned because of the time and effort they put in," Rangers coach Dave Galovich said. "The fact that it hurts when you invest time and energy into something, it's going to hurt a little bit more."