Randolph gets miracle win over Waunakee

A little late on this one but, on Saturday night I saw Randolph get a miracle win over Waunakee. Normally this would be very demoralizing for division one Waunakee to lose to a division four school but, this isn't any division four school but, this is Randolph. Randolph has won numerous state titles, competes with bigger schools on a regular bases, and has two scholarship players on their roster.

Waunakee started out very good taking a 15-13 lead after one. Waunakee was able to contain one of Randolphs stars 6'3 senior Tyler Tillema by facing guarding him with either 6'3 senior Eric Helt or 6'0 sophomore Beau Murray. In the second quarter Randolph's other scholarship player 6'10 junior Kyle Kelm started heating up and carried Randolph to a 28-23 halftime lead. The first half was very sluggish but, in the second half things began to pick up as Tillema started to get hot and Waunakee finally started playing well. Every time it seemed Waunakee was going to tie the game up or take the lead Tillema was there to knock down a big three. The fourth quarter Tillema continued his hot shooting from long range and Kelm had a nice base line drive and dunk but, that is about the time things got interesting. Randolph was by 11 points with around three minutes left in the game when things fell apart for them. Waunakee senior 6'0 Jeff Tagarelli drove and finished with the left hand, nine point game. Randolp missed the free throws. 6'0 Waunakee senior Mitch Roelke came down and knocked down a three, six point game. Randolph inbounds the ball and it goes through the Randolph players hands right to Roelke who knocks down another three, three point game. Randolph once again goes to the line and misses the free throws. After a time out Roelke brings the ball up for Waunakee uses a pick from 6'7 senior Zach Ripley who fades to the top of the arc, Roelke draws both defenders and finds Ripley wide open and he drops the three to tie the game with 18 seconds left. Randolph passes the ball into Kelm who immediately travels. Waunakee gets the ball back with about 18 seconds still remaining. Roelke gets the ball at the top and looks to penetrate and pulls up for the 15 footer and is fouled. Roelke goes to the line and knocks down both free throws with three seconds left on the clock to give Waunakee a two point lead. Randolph inbounds the ball to Tillema who gets the ball to half court and launches it, the ball banks of the back board and in as the buzzer sounds giving Randolph the win. Great great finish.

Right now it still seems that Waunakee is looking for the leader, someone to take that shot. It appears that Mitch Roelke might be that player but, I think he might be better suited passing to that clutch player. Roelke just passes the ball so well. Waunakee really only has three tough games left in a rematch with Baraboo, a very tough game against Milwaukee Washington, and then the Badger challenge at the end of the year.

Randolph is really only a two man team specifically against better competition but, it just so happens those two players are probably the best players in all of division four. Its very rare to have a scholarship player at a D4 school but, its unheard of to have two of those players. Randolph looks poised for another state title.

Top Players
Mitch Roelke 6'0 senior Waunakee- Great pass first point guard who makes very good decisions. Also knocked down the big shots at the end of the game.
Eric Helt 6'3 senior Waunakee- Player great defense on Tillema all night but, when a kids that hot he's tough to stop.
Tyler Tillema 6'3 senior Randolph- 6-6 from three point range. This kid is a big time player and has great size for a point guard.
Kyle Kelm 6'10 junior Randolph- Big man that moves very well and has great touch from the outside for a big man.

Box Score
Waunakee 62- Roelke 17 Ripley 12 Helt 9 Ryan Gilles 6 Tagarelli 6 Austin Goetsch 4 Murray 4 Jason Paulson 4 Jared Staege 0 Cole Cefalu 0
Randolph 63- Tillema 26 Kelm 21 Brian Kampstra 5 Zach Reuter 5 Corey Pfeffer 2 Jared Reuter 2 Jay Fish 2

Half the season is now over and it has been a great half can't wait for the second half. In the next few days I will hopefully be doing new team rankings and player rankings. I haven't done them in awhile because I really haven't seen any new teams and the rankings just haven't changed that much.