Article of All Star game

Article last updated:
Monday, April 17, 2000 10:40 AM MST

Staff photo/Kevin Potter
Small School player Chad Harder of Walnut loses the ball on the fastbreak in front of referee Bob Johnson during the first half of the game Sunday.

Small School boys take a classic

KEVIN WHITE
Staff Writer

Sometimes the word "classic" is used all too freely when describing postseason all-star games.

But those who witnessed the boys game at Iowa Western Sunday night wouldn't hestitate for a moment in calling it exactly that - a classic.

The Large Schools rallied from 14 points down early in the second half, and regained the lead five different times in the final six minutes, but the Small Schools scored the final 10 points of the game to pull away for a wildly entertaining 118-109 victory in The Daily Nonpareil/Iowa Western All-Star Basketball Classic in the Kanesville Arena at IWCC.

A record crowd estimated at 1,100 attended the doubleheader, and those who watched the boys game saw the Small Schools even the series at 2-2 after a spectacular offensive show by both clubs.

The two teams combined to make 21 3-pointers in the 40-minute game, and 12 of the 19 who participated reached double figures.

"I can't say enough for this all-star game," Small Schools head coach Warren Watson of Elk Horn-Kimballton said. "Beautiful facility, great fans. This was just terrific."

Added Large Schools head coach Dick Wettengel of Lewis Central: "After beating on each other all year long, I think these kids really enjoy playing with each other."

A 118-point total didn't appear likely for the Small Schools after four minutes, as they stared at an early 13-2 deficit.

"It certainly did concern me," Watson said. "They've got kids out there that can absolutely light it up from the perimeter. They were spreading our defense from one end to the other."

Getting nine first-quarter points from Warren Watson's son, Brett, the Small Schools regrouped and trailed just 24-22 after one.

The Small Schools found the range in the second quarter, burying six 3-pointers, including two each from A-H-S-T's Joss Petersen and Cumberland-Anita-Massena's Casey Pelzer.

But the balanced Large School squad - all 10 players scored before the intermission but no one had more than eight - battled to a 49-49 tie at the half.

The second half featured quality end-to-end action, with more sizzling 3-point shooting and good decision-making in transition.

Lewis Central's Carl Rezac attacked the glass in the third quarter for the Large Schools, tallying 10 of his team-high 23 points in the stanza. But the Small Schools poured in 37 of their own in the third to lead 86-78 entering the final period.

"I thought one of our real strengths would be getting up and down the floor, getting a lot of transition baskets," Warren Watson said. "I tell you, they were coming right back and getting it right in our face. I think that's what made for a real exciting game for everybody."

That excitement reached its peak in the fourth. The Large Schools, getting outstanding teamwork from Rezac and St. Albert's Jerad Mitchell erased a 91-81 deficit with nine straight points to trim it to 91-90 with 6:40 remaining.

Then came about the most entertaining four minutes you'll see in a basketball game anywhere:

Nate Spiegel of Denison-Schleswig nailed a 3-pointer for the Large Schools' first lead since the first half, but Chad Harder of Walnut answered with a trey of his own to put the Small Schools back on top 97-95.

Adam Dentlinger of Carroll Kuemper converted a three-point play for the Large Schools to make it 98-97.

After a Lee Roden (West Harrison) free throw tied it, Dentlinger scored again to make it 100-98.

But Brett Watson buried another three to put his squad in front 101-100 with 4:55 left, and then tacked on a drive to up the margin to three.

After the teams traded field goals, Luke Erickson of Lewis Central tied the game at 105 with a 3-pointer.

Dentlinger and Casey Pelzer (Cumberland-Anita-Massena) traded hoops to keep it deadlocked, and Petersen's free throw put the Small Schools up 108-107.

Dentlinger threw down the game's first dunk to give the Large Schools their last lead at 109-108 with 2:41 to play.

After that crowd-pleasing four-minute stretch, it was all Small Schools. Blair Paulsen of Elk Horn-Kimballton scored and Watson followed with a steal and layup. Jared Babbitt of Nishna Valley scored twice and Paulsen ended the scoring after a slick pass from high school teammate Watson.

"They had an hour of (assistant coach Steve) Pelzer's practice (Monday). I got them in there and gave them about five minutes of halftime talk tonight, and I think that was probably the difference," said a grinning Warren Watson, tongue firmly planted in cheek.

SMALL SCHOOLS (118)

Chad Harder (Walnut) 4 3-4 13; Eric Johnson (Stanton) 2 2-2 7; Jared Babbitt (Nishna Valley) 6 1-2 14; Lee Roden (West Harrison) 1 2-6 4; Casey Pelzer (Cumberland-Anita-Massena) 5 0-0 13; Brett Watson (Elk Horn-Kimballton) 10 3-3 25; Blair Paulsen (Elk Horn-Kimballton) 3 1-4 7; Mitch Kennedy (Cumberland-Anita-Massena) 5 2-4 12; Joss Petersen (A-H-S-T) 9 1-2 23. Totals: 45 15-27 118.

LARGE SCHOOLS (109)

Gil Ridenour (Abraham Lincoln) 5 2-4 12; Nate Spiegel (Denison-Schleswig) 3 0-0 8; Ryan Dolan (Iowa Deaf) 3 1-2 7; Brad Fisher (Clarinda) 4 0-0 10; Jerad Mitchell (St. Albert) 5 1-2 11; Luke Erickson (Lewis Central) 4 1-2 11; Justin Radke (Thomas Jefferson) 2 0-0 6; Carl Rezac (Lewis Central) 11 1-2 23; Adam Dentlinger (Carroll Kuemper) 9 1-2 19; Tony Miller (Harlan) 1 0-0 2. Totals: 47 7-14 109.

Small Schools 22 27 37 32 - 118

Large Schools 24 25 29 31 - 109

3-point goals: Small 13 (Petersen 4, Pelzer 3, Harder 2, Watson 2, Johnson, Babbitt); Large 8 (Spiegel 2, Fisher 2, Erickson 2, Radke 2). Total fouls: Small 8; Large 16. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: none. Rebounds: Small 46 (Pelzer 9, Petersen 8); Large 49 (Dentlinger 14). Assists: Small 21 (Watson 8, Harder 5); Large 15 (Mitchell 4). Steals: Small 11 (Watson 4, Pelzer 3); Large 11 (Fisher 2, Mitchell 2, Erickson 2, Dentlinger 2); Turnovers: Small 16; Large 17.