Free throw futility hurts Vikings

New Berlin - Following New Berlin Eisenhower's 50-46 decision over New Berlin West on Dec. 13 at West, Vikings coach Jeff Lewiston summed up his team's situation the best.

"When you have your chances, you have to take advantage of your chances," the veteran coach said. "If you don't take advantage of your chances, then it's shame on you. Unfortunately, we didn't get our job done."

What Lewiston was referring to was the Vikings inability to finish at the free-throw line, as they managed to sink only 2-of-9 free throws in the last five minutes of the game.

"To work so hard to get to the line and then to not hit them at all, is just frustrating," Lewiston said. "This team has got to learn to step forward and finish the job."

The hard-fought win for a talented Eisenhower team was the Lions' sixth in a row in the series over West, which hit a horrific 37 percent from the free throw line (7-of-19).

Battle lasts all game

The young Vikings, whose last win in the series was a 35-33 victory on Feb. 8, 2008, battled the Lions right to the end.

West had taken a 40-38 lead with 6 minutes, 33 seconds left in the game on a drive to the basket by senior guard Jordan McKeon, but Ike sophomore guard Reed Timmer tied the game on a fastbreak steal.

The Vikings then missed two free throws before Timmer hit Keith Kahlfeldt with a pass leading to a layup and a 42-40 lead at 4:09 and the Lions would never trail again.

West missed two more free throws at 3:38 and Timmer countered with two free throws at 2:50 for a 44-40 lead. West's leader Dan Sidesky converted two free throws in a bonus situation to pull within 44-42 with 2:35 left to play.

Lions scrappy guard Gerald Bufford III hit two free throws to increase Ike's lead to 46-42 with 1:32 to play and then Sidesky drove the lane for a bucket with 59.9 seconds left to cut the lead to 46-44.

Timmer then hit 2-of-2 free throws, but the Vikings and Lions each missed two free throws before Sidesky scored on a drive to the basket to cut the lead to 48-46 with 35.2 left in the game.

The Lions then missed four free throws down the stretch, but the Vikings couldn't take advantage of it and missed the front end of a bonus with a chance to tie the game with 21.2 left to play.

Ike has free troubles, too

The Lions also struggled from the line in the final six in a row before Bufford dropped in two shots with five seconds left to play to ice the win.

"I have to credit Dave (Scheidegger)," Lewiston said. "Dave's a very good coach; they did a great job. He's got some nice kids. When they had to make the free throws, they made them."

Timmer finished with 19 points, while Sidesky had 18 and Bufford finished with 11 as did West's Mitch Haag.

"We came into this game focusing on defense," Kahlfeldt said. "Our main focus was to stop Dan Sidesky. We hustled and we played as a team out there, so we did well."

Ike coach Dave Scheidegger was very matter-of-factly afterwards.

"The kids obviously enjoy this (rivalry)," he said. "And that is important. As far as pure basketball, we all have stuff to work on - both teams.

"The West kids played wonderful. They did a good job. We didn't seem to affect them too much."

Added Lewiston: "This was your rival. A good crowd - it hurts. But it is what it is."