University of Wisconsin Marathon County
Men's Basketball
February 21, 1998
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wisconsin Collegiate Conference Championship
| UW Marathon | 30 | 69 | (MTH 20-5, 14-2) | (Monroe 18, Petruzalek 17, Kock 12) |
| @UW Marinette | 25 | 64 | (MNT 16-5, 11-2) | (Ruport 28, Schoblocher 10, DeGoey 10) |
The UW Marathon Huskies defeated the UW Marinette Buccaneers 69-64 in the Wisconsin Collegiate Conference Championship game Saturday in Marinette.
The victory gives the UWMC campus a championship in men’s basketball – something they haven’t enjoyed since 1983. Twenty wins in a single season also breaks the school record for single season victories. Last year’s team was 19-6, tying the record of nineteen wins set in 1974.
The teams battled evenly in the first half until a 9-0 Marathon run produced a 21-12 lead with 8:53 to play. Following a Marinette time-out, the Bucs used a trapping half-court defense to stifle the Husky offense and close to within 30-25 at the half.
After intermission Marinette looked to first team all-conference sophomore forward Eric Ruport, who scored seventeen points in the second half. Marinette took the lead at 45-44 on a turn around jumper by Dave DeGoey, before two free throws by Greg Arnett (Lakeland H.S.) put the Huskies back in front to stay with 10:39 to play. The teams traded baskets evenly until a three point play by point guard Matt Kock (Lakeland H.S.) put the Huskies ahead 60-56 with just 5 minutes to play. A missed attempt by Marinette, followed by a huge three-point goal by Brian Petruzalek (Phillips) gave the Huskies a seven point lead (63-56) with 3:13 to play.
But the Bucs would not go quietly, as a free throw by Ryan Schoblocher, and a three point bomb by Ruport brought Marinette to within 63-60. Marathon answered the Bucs press with a 15 foot jumper by Petruzalek, and two free throws from Arnett gave them a 67-60 lead with 1:59 remaining. Schoblocher was fouled on the next possession. He responded by making the first free throw, but Marinette rebounded the second and Ruport was fouled trying to score. He missed the first, but made the second to make the score 67-62. A Huskies turnover against pressure resulted in a DeGoey field goal, and a 67-64 margin with 55.4 seconds to play. After a Marathon time-out, the Bucs forced another turnover but could not convert as Ruport misssed a runner in the lane and fouled Arnett as he rebounded with 45.8 seconds remaining. Arnett made the first, 68-64, but missed the second as Marinette advanced the ball quickly for a three point attempt by Chad Christenson. Petruzalek rebounded the miss and was fouled immediately by Nate Wotruba. Petruzalek, an 85% free throw shooter on the season, missed both free throws, leading to a missed three point attempt by Wotruba and the rebound by Ryan Monroe (Rhinelander). The Bucs immediately fouled Kock, who would make 1 of 2 with 13.4 remaining for the game’s final score.
Ruport’s 28 points led all scorers, while DeGoey and Schoblocher added 10 points each for the Buccaneers. The Huskies were once again led in scoring by Monroe with 18 points, followed by Petruzalek’s 17. Matt Kock added 12 points, and a strong floor game.
"I am just really happy for the kids… especially the sophomores," said a relieved Coach Dave Gibbs. "They have worked very hard for two years, and are extremely deserving of this championship. To defeat Marinette on their home floor is a real accomplishment. Marinette represents one of the finest two-year college basketball programs in the state of Wisconsin." UW Marinette, winners of the last two conference championships, has represented the Eastern Division in the conference championship game four years in a row.
The Huskies improve to 20-5 on the season while Marinette drops to 16-5.