VERSAILLES – The Versailles Tigers earned a Senior Night non-conference double-digit 69-59 win over the visiting Indian Lake Lakers.
“I was happy how our team played tonight,” said Versailles Coach Travis Swank following the game.
Versailles honored three seniors before the start of the game: AJ Griesdorn, Carson Heitcamp, and Gabe White.
The teams played to an 18-18 standoff after one-quarter of play. AJ Griesdorn paced the Tigers with eight first-quarter points including 4-4 at the free throw line.
“AJ does a good job of squaring his shoulders,” Swank noted. “When you square your shoulders you seal off the defender and you got them at that point. He’s strong and powerful when he goes up to finish and that is what helps him put the ball in the basket.”
Indian Lake went on the offensive to grab a seven-point 31-24 lead at 2:44 in the second before the Tigers battled back to close out the half with a 6-2 run and trail 33-30 at the break. Drake Ahrens led Versailles with six second-quarter points.
“Their capability of knocking down the three ball is so deadly,” said Swank. “They are so dangerous because a lot of guys can surround the floor and hit threes for them. We did as best as we could defending the three.”
Versailles exploded for 24 third-quarter points while limiting the visitors to 16 points giving the home-standing Tigers a 54-49 lead with one period to play but not before trailing 43-40 followed with a Jace Watren 3-pointer to knot the score at 43-43 and Ethan Wilker draining a 3-pointer at the buzzer giving the Tigers a five point advantage heading to the fourth.
Wilker paced Versailles with nine third-quarter points including a 3-pointer and Griesdorn chipped in with eight points.
“Ethan got a ton of offensive rebounds and stick backs,” Coach Swank said. “He found his way around the rim. That three in the corner was big for us going into the fourth.”
Versailles continued to put daylight between the teams using a Watren trey to lead 61-53 at 4:25 in the fourth. A Carson Heitkamp layup made it a 65-56 Versailles advantage and an Ahrens drive to the basket gave the Tigers an 11-point 67-56 lead at 2:21 on their way to a 10-point win. Ahrens led Versailles with six fourth-quarter points.
“He (Ahrens) did a great job tonight being aggressive with his offensive game,” said Swank. “He’s adding that little pull-up jumper. If he keeps on working on that he’s going to be hard to guard because he can get to the basket with the best of them.”
Five Versailles players accounted for all the Tigers’ points with each hitting double figures led by 20 AJ Griesdorn’s points.
Coach Swank took time to talk about his seniors following the Tuesday night win.
“AJ’s picked up the load this year,” said Swank. “He’s a great kid, he has a great head on his shoulders and he will do well in life.”
“Carson Heitkamp has been a worker, he kept getting better, he grew a lot, and kept on working on it. He’s played really well for us this year. He’s done a whale of a job for us.”
“Gabe White has come in and done his role this year,” Coach Swank noted. “Another kid just like Carson. Didn’t see any varsity minutes last year, and broke his hand later in his junior year. He’s come in and given us some sparks in some games. He’s a talker, he’s a communicator, he knows the game really well and that is what helps him get on the floor.”
BOXSCORE:
VERSAILLES – AJ Griesdorn 20, D. Ahrens 15, J. Watren 13, E. Wilker 11, C. Heitkamp 10 – 24 9-10 4 69
INDIAN LAKE – C. Tuttle 25, M. Hall 13, C. Nicol 7, D. Finfrock 6, B.Reisinger 4, A. Pequignot 4 – TOTALS 10 9-11 10 59
3-POINTERS
Versailles 4 (J. Watren 3, E. Wilker 1)
Indian Lake 10 (M. Hall 4, C. Tuttle 4, B. Reisinger 1, C. Nicol 1)
SCORE by QUARTERS
18-12-24-15 69 Versailles
18-15-16-10 59 Indian Lake
