Fourth-seeded New Glarus (25-2) downed top-seeded and previously undefeated Roncalli 44-41 in the Division 4 semifinals of the 2019 State Boys Basketball Tournament Thursday evening at the Kohl Center.
It marks the first time in the two years the State Tournament has been seeded that a #4 seed has defeated a #1 seed.
The first half was closely contested with three lead changes, two ties and neither team leading by more than six points. The Glarner Knights led 29-27 at halftime thanks in part to eight straight points by Zach Feller to erase a six-point deficit and give New Glarus the lead.
The Glarner Knights built a seven-point lead, the largest lead by either team in the game, at the 11:08 mark of the second half, but the Jets chipped away and tied the game at 41-41 with 2:58 to play. Jaden Krecklow scored the game’s final three points in the last 1:11.
Krecklow led all scorers with 21 points and handed out a team-high four assists. Zach Feller also scored in double figures with 13 points. Mason Martinson paced the Glarner Knights on the boards with eight rebounds.
Chombi Lambert led the Jets with 12 points, and Ian Behringer added 10 points and pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds. Roncalli had difficulty finding the range from beyond the arc, shooting just 18 percent on 4-of-22 three-point attempts.
Roncalli (26-1) ends its season at State for the eighth time, and New Glarus will make its first title game appearance in their fourth tournament experience and their first since 1932.
Second-seeded Lourdes Academy (26-1) edged Osseo-Fairchild in the other Division 4 semifinal Thursday night at the Kohl Center.
Semifinals: Thursday, March 14 - 6:35pm
#4 New Glarus (25-2) 44, #1 Roncalli (26-1) 41