Aquinas over Wisconsin Heights

Night two of the playoffs and there were more games to choose from but, real good games were a little sparse. I decided to go to a D4 regional game. It gave me the chance to watch Wisconsin Heights play who I had kind of curious how good they were and Aquinas who is always a threat in the playoffs because they spend the regular season playing bigger schools. This game ended up being a fairly intense game full of runs that ended they way I kind of expected.

Early on it was clear that Aquinas's height was too much for Heights. 6'6 senior Randy Jacobson was having his way on the inside as Heights played no one over 6'2 and at times had guys guarding Jacobson that were 6'0. Jacobson did a nice job of collecting himself and finishing off the glass. It appeared that, that height would be too much early but, then Heights leading scorer 6'0 senior Grady Geishirt got things going from the outside and driving the lane. I believe Geishirt had seven straight points at one point on his way to 14 in the first half. On the other side Aquinas's leading scorer 6'1 senior Conley Malone just couldn't get anything going despite getting some very good looks at the hoop. Thankfully for Aquinas 5'11 junior Brandon Merfeld showed up hitting some big threes in the first half to pace his team and between him and Jacobson Aquinas had a 32-23 lead at half. I have to say that some foul trouble really hurt Wisconsin Heights as their starters battled that all game long.

The fouls continued for Heights in the second half as they had three starters spending time on the bench early in the second with three fouls. Merfeld continued his torrid shooting on the night and really carried Aquinas in the second half. Again it seemed like Aquinas could possibly run away but, then it was the outside shooting of junior 6'0 Shravan Parman that kept the game close. Parman hit five threes in the game and I believe four were in the second half and just about everyone was huge in this game. Late in the game Malone did get some things going drive to the hoop and finding Jacobson in the lane for some easy buckets. In the end fouls, height, and Merfeld did Wisconsin Heights in.

Top Players 
Brandon Merfeld 5'11 junior Aquinas- Was the best player on the court tonight. Merfeld did a nice job running the point and he just couldn't miss from three point range. Other thing I really liked was he shut down Heights point guard Austin Wolfe and then when Wolfe was out he guard Grady Geishirt and did a pretty nice job of slowing him down.

Randy Jacobson 6'6 senior Aquinas- Really dominated the post. Did a great job of sealing off the defender and finishing at the rim with a soft touch. I swear he got every defensive rebound.

Conley Malone 6'1 senior Aquinas- Watching him he seems like too nice of a kid on the court. Struggled shooting the ball even from the free throw line but, he did a nice job of driving the lane and finding team mates. Probably led the team in assists tonight.

Gavin Wetzel 6'2 sophomore Aquinas- Didn't score much but, he really did a great job of battling on the glass and grabbing offensive rebounds.

Grady Geishirt 6'0 senior Wisconsin Heights- Shot the outside shot very well and was able to use his strength to get inside and score as well.

Shravan Parman 6'0 junior Wisconsin Heights- Hitting those five threes off the bench was huge for Heights in this game and he nearly willed them back into this game.

Box Score
Aquinas 73- Merfeld 30 Jacobson 18 Malone 17 Jacob Savoldelli 3 Nick Johnson 2 Wetzel 1 Bryce Lee 1 Jonathan Klauke 0
Wisconsin Heights 67- G Geishirt 21 Parman 15 Wolfe 9 Daniel Geishirt 6 Joan Ayala-Carpintero 5 Carson Hughes 5 Clayton Caminiti 4 Camden Brown 2 De'Shawn Barsness 0

Well it seems the story is the same every year. Aquinas gets a lower seed due to their .500 record and then they end up upsetting some good D4 teams and some how make it to sectionals and even state a few times.