Chi-Hi hands Wildcats their third straight loss

BY ROSS EVAVOLD / THE CHIPPEWA HERALD

The fact that it took two overtimes to claim only made the Cardinals' first Big Rivers Conference victory that much sweeter.

Chippewa Falls played its sharpest game of the season Friday night and handed River Falls its third consecutive loss, 60-57 in the Chi-Hi gym.

The Cards came charging from behind twice. They scored the game's first six points' but later watched the Wildcats string together 11 in a row to take a 20-10 lead.

But Chippewa answered with an 11-2 run, behind five points from Dave Oestrich, to go back ahead.

Then when river falls opened up leads of 46-40 and 49-44 in the fourth quarter, the Redbirds clawed back again.

"I think that's our identity," said Chi-Hi coach Luke Madsen. "We're not going to overwhelm people with our ability. We have enough talent on this team to compete with everybody.

"But we have to be the team to refuse to back down. We're going to be there every second and battle you for 32 minutes."

Or in this case, 42 minutes.

Jeremy Knoble sent the game into the second overtime by hitting a 3-point shot at the 1:45 mark. It was the only time the Cards scored in their six possessions in the first overtime.

Both teams missed shots following Knoble's basket that could have ended it.

In the second overtime, Nick Goeman made a pair of free throws to tie the game again at 56-all, and Josh Prince, Knoble and Tyler Goettl all made 1 of 2 free throws to seal the victory.