Raiders at State

DES MOINES — Derek Weisskopf hit a layup to open the second quarter, putting the Williamsburg Raiders up 14-12 in their Class 3A state quarterfinal Monday, March 4, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Then the wheels fell off.

Top seed Decorah went on a 32-1 run over the next two quarters.

“Not sure you can attribute it to too much,” Williamsburg Coach Brad Knoop said. “The ball was not falling. We were a little shell shocked. We were trying to do the right thing, and it was not working.”

At the end of that run, Williamsburg (16-9) trailed Decorah 44-15. Grant Hocker hit a 3-pointer late in the third quarter to break the seal on the basket, but the Raiders trailed by 33 going into the final quarter (53-20).

“We got stagnant offensively and started turning the ball over. We didn’t move the ball well,” Knoop said. “We forced it a little too much. It felt like we were working too hard and not seeing the results.”

Decorah (23-2) was the top seed. Ben Bockman scored 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Cael LaFrentz — son of former Kansas and NBA star Raef LaFrentz — added 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Weisskopf scored 18 points for the Raiders, but an uncharacteristic one rebound and one assist. Hocker had nine points and Kellen Cockrell led with eight rebounds.

The Raiders shot 29.4% (15 of 51) including 4 of 19 from 3-point range.

“They are a good defensive team,” Knoop said of the Vikings. “We didn’t move the ball side to side very well, so we didn’t take the greatest shots … but they just didn’t fall.”

Decorah was upset in the semifinals by eventual champ Davenport Assumption, 61-53 in OT.

It was still a historic run for the Raiders, who became the third Williamsburg team in school history to make it to the state tournament.

“They are bummed because they feel they didn’t play well, but they are still one of eight teams that made it,” Knoop said.

Over time, the Raiders will remember the shot streak they went on to win three straight and advance to Des Moines.

“I told them there’s nothing to hang your head about,” Knoop said. “You guys just broke the seal. Hopefully you encourage more kids to work hard to get there, and be a part of something like that. Being proud to come back when the next team does make it. You helped shape this program.”

Stats

Vikings 66, Raiders 42

WILLIAMSBURG (42) — Clayten Steckly 0-3 0-0 0, Grant Hocker 3-8 1-2 9, Derek Weisskopf 6-17 4-6 18, Braden Plotz 1-7 0-0 2, Kellen Cockrell 2-6 0-1 4, Braysen Doehrman 0-1 0-0 0, Simeon Armbrecht 0-2 0-0 0, Logan Hummer 1-2 0-0 2, Grady Wetjen 0-0 0-0 0, Bryson Wetjen 0-1 0-0 0, Logan Rethwisch 0-2 0-0 0, John Eichhorn 2-2 3-5 7. Totals 15-51 8-14 42.

DECORAH (66) — Kaiden Quandahl 2-4 2-4 6, Trey McCain 2-8 0-0 4, Matthew Bockman 1-8 0-0 2, Ben Bockman 11-17 2-2 29, Cael LaFrentz 5-10 2-2 12, Gavin Groux 0-1 0-0 0, Andrew Rhodes 0-1 0-0 0, Jackson Pipho 0-2 0-0 0, Zachary Driscoll 1-4 1-2 4, Carter Dlhy 0-3 0-0 0, Louis Bucksa 1-2 0-0 3, Noah Milburn 3-5 0-0 6.

Totals 26-65 7-10 — 66

Williamsburg 14 1 5 22 — 42

Decorah 12 12 29 13 — 66

3-point goals

Williamsburg 4-19 (Steckly 0-1, Hocker 2-5, Weisskopf 2-7, Cockrell 0-1, Doehrmann 0-1, Hummer 0-1, B. Wetjen 0-1, Rethwisch 0-2).

Decorah 7-19 (McCain 0-2, M. Bockman 0-2, B. Bockman 5-9, Pipho 0-1, Driscoll 1-3, Bucksa 1-2).

Rebounds

Williamsburg 30 (Cockrell 8).

Decorah 52 (LaFrentz 13, Milburn 11).

Assists

Williamsburg 7, Decroah 10 (Driscoll 4).

Turnovers — Williamsburg 11, Decorah 8.

Total fouls — Williamsburg 10, Decroah 16.