MADISON, WI- The Bonduel boys’ basketball team made history by reaching the WIAA Division 4 state championship game for the first time. But on Saturday at the Kohl Center, the dream of bringing home a title ran into a scorching-hot Aquinas team that simply wouldn’t miss.
The Blugolds’ relentless shooting and fast-paced attack proved too much for the Bears, as Bonduel fell 74-45 in the state final.
A Hot Start by Aquinas Leaves Bonduel Playing Catch-Up
Third-seeded Aquinas (26-3) wasted no time imposing its will, lighting up the first half with 65.5% shooting (19-of-29), including seven three-pointers. By halftime, the Blugolds had built a commanding 45-27 lead, and Bonduel (28-2) never found a way to close the gap.
“We ran into a really good basketball team,” Bonduel head coach Duke Copp said. “They were hitting shots like crazy. We tried a few different defenses, but I don’t think it was going to matter a whole lot.”
Aquinas finished the game shooting nearly 59% (31-of-53) and dominated in transition, outscoring Bonduel 20-6 on fast-break points.
A Fight to the Finish
Even with the odds stacked against them, the Bears refused to quit. At halftime, Copp urged his players to dig deep and play with more physicality in the final 18 minutes of their season.
“We had just one foul in the first half, so we knew we needed to be more aggressive,” Copp said. “We gave it everything we had.”
Junior Ryan Westrich, who played a key role in Bonduel’s postseason run, credited Aquinas for dictating the pace and making life difficult for the Bears.
“They played with a lot of physicality and intensity on defense,” Westrich said. “It was tough to get passes around, tough to post up. They pushed the pace really well. They’re a heck of a team, and they played a heck of a game today.”
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