Indians hit the stretch running

Posted: Feb. 7, 2012

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Carol Spaeth-Bauer

The Mukwonago boys varsity basketball team reacts to its win over Catholic Memorial on Feb. 3.

Carol Spaeth-Bauer

The Mukwonago boys varsity basketball team reacts to its win over Catholic Memorial on Feb. 3.

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Aaron Nixon is aware that his team struggles from time to time at the charity stripe, pointing out that Mukwonago is last in the Classic 8 Conference in free-throw percentage. One solution is to simply get there far more times than the other guy.

Thanks to Nixon's free-throw shooting and negotiation of the Catholic Memorial press, with a whole lot of Nate Tanguay thrown in, the Indians wore down the Crusaders and surged for 31 fourth-quarter points Friday. The 62-54 home victory accomplished a number of things: it avenged an earlier-season loss, kept MHS tied for first place in league play and clinched the program's first winning season in conference since the dawn of the Classic 8 in 1997.

"We knew they were coming at us with a bunch of press," said the sophomore Nixon, who came off the bench and finished with 15 points. "Everyone was constantly coming back to the ball and helping one another. We were staying strong with the ball. Everyone's getting better, and we're finishing down low."

Finishing was an issue early, with Mukwonago (12-5 overall, 8-2 in league play) taking nine more shots in the first half but trailing at the break, 24-19. In fact, Memorial (10-6, 5-5) led all of the first three quarters, and it wasn't until Tanguay hit back-to-back baskets to open the fourth quarter that MHS took its first lead, with 7:06 to play.

Tanguay proceeded to score 12 of his team's first 14 points in the fourth, finishing with 14 in the quarter and 18 overall.

"We always think we're in a game no matter what the score is," Tanguay said. "Our team came out strong (in the fourth), and we knew we were going to win it. The fouls in the fourth quarter really killed them."

The Indians had already reached the bonus before the start of the fourth quarter, and they finished with 29 free-throw attempts to Memorial's 15. Mukwonago only made 16 of those, but a 10 for 14 performance in the fourth paid dividends, including 7 of 8 from Nixon.

"I think we have two of the best pressure handlers in the conference in Aaron Nixon and AJ Bricco," said Tanguay, who also finished with nine rebounds. "They handle the ball so well for us."

Dominic Cizauskas had an incredible stat line, finishing with 13 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Nixon handed out six assists.

"Coach just constantly told us to get it down to Nate and Dom (Cizauskas) and Nick (Blohm), just keep pounding it in to them and make your free throws," Nixon said. "We constantly practice that."

MHS coach Jim Haasser also appreciated the role Nixon played.

"He just settles the game down for us so well." said Haasser. "He keeps guys on his hips, the ball is usually very well protected. I know with Nathan's game, it's hard to look beyond that (fourth-quarter scoring), but Aaron had a game."

After taking that first lead in the fourth, Memorial answered back to tie the score at 35-35, and it was Nixon who restored the lead with a basket. Mukwonago created some distance when Memorial's Andre Bodden and Cizauskas were tied up under the CMH basket, and Bodden was whistled for a technical foul when Cizauskas wound up on the floor.

Tanguay ultimately made two free throws to make it 39-35, and he added the subsequent two baskets to give MHS its largest lead at 43-35.

Jake Giffhorn and Ty Sabin kept Memorial close, combining for four 3-pointers in the home stretch and 17 of the team's final 19 points, but Nixon went 6 for 6 at the line in the final minute.

"There were a couple times we got caught up in pace, but we battled back," Haasser said. "It's hard not to get caught up in that. We missed layups and free throws in the first half ... We just had to continue to beat them up in the post. Those fouls in the third quarter ... I told them between quarters, 'Guys right now the stat of the day is that bottom row of the scoreboard."

The end result was a far cry from the 62-44 loss Memorial handed the Indians earlier this year.

"Confidence," Tanguay said. "We came out with no confidence (the first time) and couldn't handle the pressure. This time, we're used to it."

Mukwonago 61, Destiny 49

The Indians trailed by a point at halftime last Tuesday before topping visiting Destiny in a non-conference game.

MHS held Destiny to 34 percent shooting and won the rebounding battle, 37-28, with Cizauskas getting 12 boards. Blohm and Tanguay had five assists each, and four players finished in double figures, led by Tanguay's 19.