Boys Playoff Basketball Results Thursday, February 24th
Carroll At Bishop Heelan- Class 3A Sub-State 8
Carroll 51
Heelan 46
Kaleb Booth may have summed it up best in the postgame, when he said, the Tigers weren’t going to let their season come to an end on Thursday at Heelan. They dominated the 4th quarter of a tight game, advancing into Monday’s Sub-State 8 final, with a 51-46 win. Booth was a big part of that, scoring 19 of his 26 points in the 2nd half. Carroll defense was sharp most of the game, holding Heelan in check most of the night. Head Coach Randy Bissen said they wanted to take away the lane, and force Heelan to hit long jumpers. They did early, but Beau Chamberlain hit a pair of corner threes, but Carroll forced the Crusaders to keep shooting from long range and eventually the shots didn’t fall. Carroll took the lead for good at 44-42, on a bucket by Kaleb Booth. They extended the lead to five on a pair of free throws by Booth, before Caden Kock sealed it with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, to make it 51-46. The game was tight all the way, with 9 lead changes and 9 ties. The Tigers largest lead was five in the 2nd quarter, and again twice in the final minute. Heelan led by five late in the 3rd quarter.
Beau Chamberlain hit a three to open the scoring, and Heelan led 3-0 on their first possession. Kaleb Booth found Nick Macke on the other end, getting Carroll on the board, down 3-2. A Caden Kock bucket, put Carroll up 4-3. Heelan responded with four straight, but a Kaleb Booth three tied the game at 7. Tanner Gotto scored on a hustle offensive rebound on the left baseline, and scored at the rim, after shielding the shot with the rim, coming out on the right side. Gus Collison picked off a pass, putting Carroll up 11-9 with his layup on the other end. Nick Macke scored just before the buzzer and Carroll led 13-12 after the 1st quarter. Kaleb Booth opened the 2nd quarter with four straight points, and Carroll led 17-12. Heelan answered with a five point run, tying the game at 17. The game stayed tight the rest of the half, as Carroll led 24-21, after Kaleb Booth found Nick Macke again. Heelan closed the half on a 5-0 run with Sean Schaefer hitting a three just before the buzzer to give them a 26-24 lead at half.
Heelan opened the 2nd half outscoring the Tigers eight to five, building their largest lead of the game. Tanner Gotto hit a pair of free throws to pull Carroll within three, Kaleb Booth tied the game at 34 with a three, swinging the momentum back to Carroll. Booth took over for Carroll at this point. He scored again, tying the game at 36, then found Evan Hammer inside, tying the game at 38, before feeding Caden Kock for another layup, giving Carroll a 40-38 lead. Heelan got a quick three from Carter Kuehl, putting them up 41-40. A Matt Noll free throw extended the Crusader lead to two. Booth scored back-to-back two point baskets, then hit a pair of free throws and Carroll led 46-42. Both added three more free throws, extending the lead to 49-44. The second and third free throws came after he stole the ball from Nick Miller near the left elbow. Heelan inbounded the ball after timeout, down three and Miller caught it near the left elbow. He pivoted with the basketball and Booth reached in an pulled the ball away, picking up the fifth foul on Miller. Booth made one of two free throws, making it a five point game. Heelan scored to pull within three but Caden Kock iced the game with a pair of free throws.
Kaleb Booth led Carroll with 26 points to go with 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Caden Kock added 8 points and 7 rebounds, Nick Macke scored 6 points, Evan Hammer had 7 rebounds and Tanner Gotto added 5 points and 4 rebounds.
The win improves Carroll to 15-8 as the Tigers extend their winning streak to seven. Carroll will face Denison Schleswig on Monday in the Sub-State Final. The location had not been announced at the time the story was posted.
Carroll Stats
Kaleb Booth 26 Points, 5 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 2 Steals
Nick Macke 6 Points, Rebound, Assist
Ethan Lengeling 1 Steal
Caden Kock 8 Points, 7 Rebounds, 2 Steals
Evan Hammer 4 Points, 7 Rebounds, Steal, 2 Blocks
Tanner Gotto 5 Points, 4 Rebounds
Gus Collison 2 Points, Steal
Box Score
Teams 1 2 3 4 Final
Carroll 13 11 10 17 51
Heelan 12 14 10 10 46
