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Bangor relentless, record-setting in beating McDonell Central for Division 5 title

03/17/2018, 2:00pm CDT
By Dick Knapinski

In the eight years of the Division 5 existence in Wisconsin prep basketball, this year’s Bangor’s team might be the pinnacle.

“I think that’s a great term, relentless,” McDonell Catholic Central coach Archie Sherbinow said of the Cardinals after the Macks were dominated 91-67 in Saturday’s final at the Kohl Center. “They were physical, the challenged everything, and they were just a machine on the boards.”

The Cardinals (27-1) had steamrolled through the tournament, winning by an average of 40 points per game before Saturday’s championship. In the final, Bangor lived up to that standard by establishing more than a dozen Division 5 records. Those included:

  • Most points in any Division 5 game (91)

  • Most points in one half (47)

  • Most points by two teams in any Division 5 game (158)

  • Most rebounds in a Division 5 game (47)

  • Most assists in a Division 5 game (22)

  • Most individual assists in a Division 5 game and tournament, by Luke Reader (11 and 16, respectively)

“I don’t know all the records we set, but it’s a testament to all the hard work that these kids have put into this,” Bangor coach Jordan Laufenberg said. “I’m super happy for them. They deserve this.”

Grant Manke had his second straight tournament double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Caleb Miedema led the Cardinals with 25 points, despite missing a chunk of the first half with a severely turned ankle, while Drew Johnson chipped in 12 points.

Miedema was helped off the floor at the 5:26 mark of the opening half after a lengthy injury delay. He was worried that it was the end of his tournament, but tape, a brace, and a successful test with trainers gave him the OK to return. He did that in a big way, scoring eight points in the first two minutes of the second half.

“I saw him helped off the floor and thought, ‘OK, we’re going to have to step up,’” Reader said. “When we came out for the second half, I looked back and there he was, running behind me. Then he just goes off in the second half.”

McDonell hung around early, closing to within 38-31 with 1:33 left in the first half before the Cardinals scored the final four points before halftime. Bangor would then hit the first basket of the second half and lead by least 15 points the rest of the way.

“Those guys were so physical down low,” said Macks senior Hayden Baughman, who led McDonell (18-11) with 24 points. “It was tough to get a rebound because they boxed out so well. They’re a bunch of football players, so they’re OK with contact.”

The Cardinals were especially dominant in the paint, outscoring the Macks 52-22. The same strength that led the school to a state football championship last fall was in full evidence on the court Saturday.

“Garrett (Krueger), I don’t think anyone this season was able to match up with him,” Miedema said. “Cade (Amborn) and Grant are just animals when it comes to getting boards. It helps to have three guys who are willing to beef up with any other team.”

Bangor also became the first school to win WIAA state titles in football, girls basketball and boys basketball in the same year.

“Spirit’s at an all-time high in Bangor right now,” Laufenberg said.

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