Seneca's Season Ends
Southwestern ends Seneca’s season in sectional semifinal
Another good season for Seneca came to an end Thursday night in Mineral Point at the hands of surprising Southwestern in a WIAA Division 5 Regional semifinal.
The seventh seeded Wildcats nipped the top seeded and fourth-ranked Indians 67-66 in a double overtime thriller to advance to the sectional final at La Crosse Logan on Saturday night. Southwestern began the playoffs with a 10-12 overall record and are now 14-12. Along the way on their Cinderella run, they have beaten the number 2, number 3 and number 1 seeds.
Seneca, the Ridge and Valley Conference champion with a 13-1 record, finished the season with a 22-3 mark overall.
Southwestern went on a 10-point run in the first half to take a 20-9 lead. Seneca, however, battled back with an 11-point run to tie the game at 20-20. The first half ended in a 22-22 tie.
The tension ratcheted up exponentially in the second half as the score continued to stay close.
Seneca was up by three with just 39 seconds remaining in regulation. Southwestern then hit a free throw, got the rebound on the second free throw, and made the shot to send the game into overtime.
Southwestern went up by four in overtime but Seneca fought back and the first overtime ended knotted at 60-60.
The Wildcats went up by one with just 3 seconds hanging on the clock in the second overtime. Seneca’s last second 3-point attempt missed and Southwestern had the victory, 67-66.
Noah Allan and Jared Payne each poured in a game-high 23 points for Seneca.