Sports
Pointers head into WIAC semifinals after Senior Day loss
The Pointer
jspra793@uwsp.edu
With the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title already in hand, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men’s basketball team succumbed in a loss to fourth-ranked UW-Platteville on Saturday, Feb. 21.
Finishing the regular season with a record of 21-4 and 14-2 in the WIAC, the 55-52 defeat for the fifth-ranked Pointers didn’t hinder the post-game celebration on Senior Day.
“We really wanted to play well,” said Head Coach Bob Semling. “Sometimes you don’t get a great rhythm.”
This was the case, as the UW-Platteville Pioneers exuded smooth offensive plays with non-stop passing action.
The Pointers left for halftime in a lead of 29-27, but came back fumbling for the ball during the latter half of the game.
The Pointers struggled behind the Pioneers by at least one point and no more than five in the remaining portion of the game until Platteville stapled their place in the lead at about 16 seconds left in the game.
The Pointers weren’t about to go without a fight when Matt Moses scored a layup with 14 seconds left. Khalifa El-Amin squeezed in another at five seconds left, but it wasn’t enough to grant them a win.
After the game, Semling commended Jerome Wotachek, Pete Rortvedt, Khalifa El-Amin and Bryan Beamish for all of their hard work over the past four years.
“What we did this year is pretty special,” Rortvedt said.
After last week’s victory against UW-La Crosse, followed by losses against UW-Whitewater and UW-Platteville, the Pointers secured the number one seed in the upcoming WIAC Championship tournament.
“We will profit with this loss and we will go after that championship final,” Semling said.
The Pointers are set to host the tournament semifinals against UW-Oshkosh at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2009.
