Kitchell, Satellites take title

UNION MILLS -- Hoosier Hysteria at its best.

Raucous fans packed a small gym and rival schools battled down to the wire.

Despite trailing LaCrosse most of the game, host South Central kept its Mid-Winter Classic crown 47-46 Saturday night.

With 2.5 seconds left, after a Tiger turnover, SC's John Fagan hit 1-of-2 at the line for a 3-point lead. LaCrosse senior Travis Zippel got a long pass and drove for a lay-in. He thought he'd tied it then held his head in despair.

"LaCrosse deserved to win," SC coach John Steinhilber said. "They played well; we could've quit many times but we showed heart. Though frustrated at the half, there was no quit. This team is special.

"We were able to overcome. Sam (Konieczny) got us back, his threes were a real spark. And we played real good defense the second half (forcing 12 of LaCrosse's 19 turnovers)."

SC's 6-8 Jake Kitchell sat most of the third quarter with three fouls and was held to 13 points, his lowest this season. He averages 25.6 ppg and 18 rpg.

"Their slowdown was very frustrating. They had a great game plan and executed it," he said of the Tigers (4-3). "But guys stepped up and Sam hit big threes. It's always a tough, intense game. We know their guys."

LaCrosse led 11-6 at the first stop as Corey Terpening got seven of his 13 points. Kitchell scored five in the second but the patient Tigers led 18-13 at the half as SC (6-1) shot an icy 4-of-15.

The third period saw a duel between Tiger Jason Ewart (7 of his 10 points) and Satellite Matt Walker with nine of his 11 total.

LaCrosse, up 32-26 after three, could've sealed it at the line but missed 6-of-10 in the last frame. Zippel kept them in it with all 10 of his points and five of his seven boards then.

Konieczny, a slim junior, got all nine of his points then. His first long trey made it 38-35 then he tied it as he pumped his fist.

"We needed someone to make big shots. It was nerve-wracking but feels good," he said of the "biggest shots of my life."

Two Kitchell freebies cut it to 41-40. He dished to John Fagan for a drive and foul. His 3-point play gave SC its first lead, 42-41, at 2:11. After a Zippel jumper Kitchell's 3-point play on a putback made it 45-43. Then Terpening split a pair.

The hosts also struggled at the line the last period, hitting just 9-15 to end 17-25.

Kitchell had nine boards and three assists.

LaCrosse hit 17 of 38 shots to taller SC's icy 10-39 but the hosts made seven more foul shots.

"We expected LaCrosse's 4-corners; we were just fortunate to win," Steilhilber said as his players cut down the nets.