Boys basketball: Season ends on Chi-Hi note

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By JON WEISBROD jon.weisbrod@lee.net
Friday, February 15, 2008 11:52 PM CST

With his team sputtering in neutral and the clock doggedly ticking away in the fourth quarter, an unlikely source kick-started the stagnant Chi-Hi offense.

Jared Jaquish, who struggled through much of his sophomore campaign after starting almost every game last year, fearlessly knocked down two critical 3-pointers down the stretch as the Cardinals escaped with a 42-39 victory over Menomonie Friday night.

He launched and connected on his first long ball from the left wing with 2 minutes, 31 seconds remaining, pulling the Cardinals (15-5, 8-4 BRC) within one at 37-36. About a minute later with his team trailing by three, the intrepid 5-foot-8 point guard splashed home his second bomb from the right corner, tying the game while sending the boisterous students’ section into a frenzy.

“I can’t say enough about his performance, he just has guts,” Chi-Hi coach Luke Madsen said. “He’s a kid that had been floundering a little bit this year. For him to step up in a game like this and offer a spark says a lot about him.”

Following Jaquish’s second 3-pointer, the Cardinals tallied the game’s final three points, two by Cole Zwiefelhofer on a lay-up after an in-bounds play and one by Josh Prince at the charity stripe.

The Indians had their chance late to tie the game, but came up dry in the final 25 seconds, including a last second off-balance 3-pointer by Bryce Supri.

Prince led Chi-Hi with 15 points while Jaquish added nine. Cole Zwiefelhofer, who did not enter the game until the 3:42 mark of the second, chipped in with eight.

Supri notched 21 points to lead the Indians, who were coming off an emotional overtime victory over Eau Claire North last Saturday.

This time, the feelings after the game were a little different for Menomonie coach Jay Stanley.

“I think the largest margin of defeat for us this season in 12 points,” said the dejected Stanley after the game.

Chi-Hi, however, isn’t exactly celebrating either.

“I think it was more of a feeling of relief,” Madsen said. “We were a little disappointed that we didn’t play our best ability tonight, but you have to credit Menomonie, they are playing very good ball right now.”

It showed in the first three quarters.

The Cardinals seemed bewildered on offense for much of the game, missing open shots on the perimeter while being repeatedly rejected on the blocks.

Chi-Hi trailed by eight at halftime and by nine heading into the final frame.

Menomonie collapsed like an old decaying building in the fourth quarter, connecting on just two field goals while turning the ball over seven times.