Kevin Ratzsch was named to the All-Region Team

Warriors Top Wolves In Regional Championship

3/18/2008 8:59:07 PM

By: Melissa Wolf, SID
WINONA, Minn. – Playing in their second NCAA North Central Region Championship game in three years, the Northern State men's basketball team succumbed to the pressure of a fierce Winona State defense in a 68-60 decision. The Wolves finish their second best season in program history with a 29-4 record, with all four season losses going against the Warriors. Winona State (35-1) moves on to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Elite Eight, March 26-29 in Springfield, Mass.

Like many other games for the Warriors this season, the Wolves managed to stick around late in the game, but Winona State's depth won out in the end. The Wolves out-shot the Warriors, but turnovers and a WSU rebounding game gave the decision to the home team, playing in front of 3,997 fans.

Errors from each team set the game even in the first half. The Warriors shot just 28.6% from the field (10-35) while the Wolves committed 12 first half turnovers. The teams tried to correct their errors, Winona State hitting the boards on their misses, nabbing 12 offensive rebounds for nine second chance points. The Wolves got back on defense following their turnovers and allowed Winona just nine points after giving up the ball.

The Warriors led for much of the half, with their largest gap at 15-8 just six minutes into the game. Northern put together a 10-3 run tie knot the score up at 18-18 with 7:30 remaining. The majority of their points came from inside the paint as the Warriors denied the outside shot. Kevin Ratzsch had 11 first half points.

McCown Gymnasium erupted in the second half as Jonte Flowers laid in a fastbreak bucket to cap a 7-0 WSU run and give the home team a 39-30 lead at the 16:30 mark. Down by as many as 11 midway through the final period, defensive stops and tough buckets kept the Wolves within a shooting distance. Ratzsch stepped back to can a three-pointer and Dan DeWitt hit a jumper to set the score at 47-40 at the 10:50 mark. 

Winona State's Flowers answered with his fourth three-point shot and turned around with a steal and a dunk to put the Warriors back up 52-40. The Wolves went on small streaks but the Warriors always had an answer. The final five minutes were especially tough for NSU, who was only able to put points on the board from the charity stripe in four of the final five minutes. 

A
late push was made by the Wolves, who canned a set of three-point shots, trailing just 62-57 with :45 seconds to play. Flowers saved the win for Winona State, hitting 7-of-8 free throws as the Warriors three-peated as North Central Region Champions.

Ratzsch and Levi Hamilton each posted a team high 17 points for the Wolves, who shot 45.7% from the field. Dan DeWitt topped the list with seven of the team's 30 rebounds. Northern committed 16 turnovers in the game.

Flowers gave the Warriors another standout game, shooting 10-of-22 from the field for 33 points. He hit four three-pointers and made 9-of-10 free throws. Flowers also had eight rebounds, four steals and two assists. The only other WSU player to score in double figures was John Smith, who had a double double with 11 points and ten rebounds. The Warriors shot 36.2% from the field and nabbed 38 rebounds, 16 of which came on offense.

2008 All-North Central Region Tournament Team
Jonte Flowers, Winona State University – Most Outstanding Player
John Smith, Winona State University
Kevin Ratzsch, Northern State University
Cory McIntosch, Augustana College, SD
Michael Jenkins, Nebrasha-Omaha
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