The Luxemburg-Casco Spartans battled but could not overcome a 20-point first half deficit, losing 86-75 to the West De Pere Phantoms in a Division 2 WIAA boys basketball regional semi-final at the West De Pere Fieldhouse Friday night.
The Phantoms jumped to an 8-0 lead in the first two minutes before Spartan’s Evan Dahlke hit a three-pointer finally answer the run.
West De Pere kept up the pressure on L-C and extended the lead eventually to 43-23 in the first half. The Spartans were able to cut the lead to ten points before intermission, but Thomas Walder hit a over the head, no-look flip shot at the buzzer to give West De Pere a 46-34 advantage at half.
The Spartans continued to stay close in the second half and got within six points several times but could not get over the hump in the second half, as the Phantom prevailed by sealing the game at the free throw line hitting 22 free throws for the game.
West De Pere was led by Ethan Heck with 20 points and Andrew Baumgart added 18 and Nathan Heikkala chipped in 17 more.
Peyton Mrotek had game-high honors for the Spartans scoring 25 points, with 17 of those coming in the first half to keep the Spartans close. Dahlke had a huge second half scoring 17 of his 19 points and hitting five three-pointers. Owen Deprez added 13 points and Jacob Parins chipped in 10 more for the Spartans.
West De Pere (17-8) will now play Ashwaubenon in the regional final Saturday.
Luxemburg-Casco (13-13) will look to next season as six seniors finished their high school basketball careers; Hayden Koss, Dahlke, Parins, Lucas Cannon, Logan Doell, and Mrotek.
