This story is sponsored by: American Family Insurance-Randy LeMoine Agency
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic boys basketball team’s ability to knock down 3-pointers at a high rate is not anything new.
The Dons knew they would have to hit some big shots from the outside and Solon Springs, their opponent in a Division 5 semifinal at the 2024 WIAA State Boys Basketball Tournament on Friday morning, knew it too, but there was nothing the Eagles could do to stop them.
Columbus Catholic went 13-for-26 from 3-point range, including five from Cy Becker, and pulled away late to defeat Solon Springs 78-65.
The Dons (28-2) will take on Madison Abundant Life Christian (28-2) for the Division 5 state championship Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Kohl Center. Abundant Life defeated Almond-Bancroft 42-37 in the other Division 5 semifinal.
The game, as expected at this point of the season, came down to the final minutes and it was the Dons that stepped up in a big way.
Trailing 58-54 following a three-point play by Solon Springs standout Isaiah Kastern with 6:37 to go, Columbus Catholic drained 3-pointers on its next four possessions. Charlie Moore got to run started with his third 3-pointer of the second half, Mac Konieczny followed and Emmitt Konieczny capped the 9-0 run that gave the Dons a 63-58 advantage with 4½ minutes left.
After another three-point play by Kastern, who came into the game averaging 29 points per game, Emmitt Konieczny hit another long ball.
The teams traded baskets before the Dons turned their attention to the free throw line. As Solon Springs had to foul to try to get the ball back, and hope Columbus Catholic would miss so it could try to catch up, the Dons failed to oblige. Columbus made all 10 of its free throw attempts in the final 1:04, six by Blake Jakobi, to ice the game. Solon Springs (27-3) did not score over the final 2:54 of the game.
“I thought we did just enough today,” said Columbus Catholic coach Joe Konieczny, who collected his 400th career victory. “We caught a few breaks along the way with the ball bouncing our way. Cy Becker was unbelievable in the first half. That gave us a chance in the second half. We made shots, we made 17 of 19 free throws, which in game like that is the difference.
“I’m very happy for our players, happier for our school, the excitement this last week has been tremendous and for our school to be able to experience Championship Saturday, I’m very, very grateful.”
The first half belonged to Becker, who scored 17 of his game-high, and new career-high, 24 points as he drained 4 of 5 shots from 3-point range. Becker nailed two triples in the opening three minutes as the Dons started the game on a 12-5 run.
Solon Springs battled back as Dylan Taggert hit three 3-pointers in a 2½-minute stretch to give the Eagles a 20-15 advantage.
The Dons trailed for the remainder of the half, but stayed within striking distance as Becker had 10 points in the last 5½ minutes, including two 3-pointers, and Solon Springs took a 36-32 lead into halftime.
“I really don’t know what I was thinking,” Becker said. “I made my first few and I started feeling good, so I kept shooting and they kept going in.”
Moore, who was scoreless in the first half, scored the Dons’ first seven points of the second half as they regained the lead at 41-38 after a basket by Lucas Kreklau.
The lead changed hands six times in the next six minutes before Columbus Catholic was able to pull away, ending the game on a 24-7 run over the final 6 minutes.
“I think the game played out pretty similar to what we kind of figured it would be,” Solon Springs coach Marcus Besonen said. “We had a bit of an advantage inside and they definitely had the advantage shooting it. We did our best in making them take difficult shots and I think we did a decent job of that.”
Moore finished with 15 points, all in the second half, and Emmitt Konieczny contributed 14 points and seven rebounds for the Dons, who shot 53 percent (24-for-45) overall.
“I thought their game plan was really focused on Blake (Jakobi) to some extent and they defended him well,” Joe Konieczny said. “But when we have Emmitt, Blake and Charlie, who can all shoot at a high percentage, it’s tough to take all of them away. Cy is more than capable. We talk about that on our team where sometimes really good players cover up really good players. I think Cy is an example of that. He’s a really good shooter. I was surprised that they were going in. W
Taggert had 22 points, and Kastern had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Solon Springs.
Columbus Catholic’s 13 3-pointers set a new Division 5 state tournament record, which was previously 10, set by Racine Lutheran in 2012 and matched by Wausau Newman Catholic last year.
Becker and Taggert each made five 3-pointers and tied the D-5 individual record as well. The two share the mark with Matthew Meyers of Barneveld (2017), Jake Fibert of Drummond (2013) and Peter Drummond of Racine Lutheran (2012).
Dons 78, Eagles 65
Solon Springs 36 29 – 65
Columbus Catholic 32 46 – 78
SOLON SPRINGS (65): Kaden Corlett 3-10 1-2 8, Isaiah Kastern 8-14 3-4 19, Dylan Taggert 8-16 1-1 22, Owen Smith 5-8 0-0 12, Abraham Ahlberg 0-2 0-0 0, Tarver Sellwood 2-5 0-0 4, Isaiah Ahlberger 0-0 0-0 0, Cade Lisson 0-0 0-0 0, Brandt Larson 0-0 0-0 0, Jaxson Kastern 0-0 0-0 0, Jonah Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Jacob Taggert 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 26-56. FT: 5-7. 3-pointers: 8-29 (D. Taggert 5-12, O. Smith 2-5, Corlette 1-8, J. Smith 0-1, I. Kastern 0-3). Rebounds: 25 (I. Kastern 14). Assists: 18 (D. Taggert 6). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: D. Taggert. Record: 27-3.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (78): Lucas Kreklau 4-5 0-0 8, Cy Becker 9-12 1-2 24, Emmitt Konieczny 4-11 2-2 14, Charlie Moore 3-7 6-7 15, Blake Jakobi 1-5 6-6 8, Mac Konieczny 3-5 0-0 7, Cal Birkhauser 0-0 0-0 0, Nathan Nemitz 0-0 2-2 2, Alex Edwards 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Dums 0-0 0-0 0, Kohle Hilgemann 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 24-45. FT: 17-19. 3-pointers: 13-26 (Becker 5-6, E. Konieczny 4-9, Moore 3-6, M. Konieczny 1-2, Jakobi 0-3). Rebounds: 29 (E. Konieczny 7). Assists: 16 (Jakobi 5). Fouls: 8. Fouled out: none. Record: 28-2.