Connor Dodge, Woodland start fast, use free throws to hold off Marquette

OTTAWA – Sensing weakness in an opponent is the greatest asset for all good predators, and that was the case for the Woodland Warriors on Friday night at Marquette’s Bader Gym.

Knowing the Crusaders had been physically banged up the last week to 10 days, the Warriors went right for the jugular from the start, going full tilt at both ends of the floor against the easily-tiring hosts to roar to a 19-point first-half lead.

To Marquette’s credit, it scrambled back to within as few as four points in the final two minutes, but Woodland put the finishing touches on by sinking an amazing 17-of-18 free throws in the final period to come away with a 63-50 Tri-County Conference decision.

Connor Dodge led the way at the start by scoring nine points in an 18-6 first period, then again at the end by draining all eight of his chances from the line to finish with a game-best 24 points. Nick Plesko contributed 14 points, and Nolan Price 11 for the Warriors, who moved to 6-3 overall, 1-1 in the league.

“One of our key points was to play with a purpose. … That’s the goal,” Woodland coach Connor Kaminke said. “We know we have the ability. We just have to control the things we can control – our discipline, our toughness, our intensity – and let the other things take care of themselves, and tonight that first half was just outstanding.

“In the second half we had some slow periods, but when you work that hard, you can give yourself some cushion to absorb those times. … But to finish the game 17-of-18 from the line, I’m so proud of these kids, because we’ve played some close games and haven’t been on the right side of that all the time. To finish it out like that, I’m so happy for them. …

“Tonight was a big step in the right direction for us.”

For the Cru – now 4-5, 0-2 – Griffin Dobberstein poured in 20 points and Alec Novotney 14, but the latter struggled to chilly 0-for-10 shooting from the field in the first half. MA as a team connected on just 3-of-14 tries in the first quarter and 2-of-12 in the second for a 16.1% shooting first half.

“We knew those guys were kind of banged up coming into the game, so we had a mindset that no matter who was on the floor (for them), we’d come out and punch them in the mouth first,” Dodge said. “I think I’m most pleased with our effort, on defense especially. We’ve been saying a lot that our offense was going to come from our defense, and tonight it did. It set the pace.”

After starting out tied 4-4, the Warriors went on a 16-2 burst led by six points by Plesko, opening up a 20-6 margin. The visitors sank 12-of-21 tries in the first half, taking a 32-13 edge on a fast-break bucket by Quentin Porter in the final minute.

The Cru woke up at both ends of the floor in the third stanza, getting six points from Lucas Craig before Dobberstein got hot and popped in 10 of his total in the fourth. It was Craig’s block and Dobberstein’s layup that pulled the hosts within 50-46 with just 1:49 to play.

But then the Warriors’ parade to the line was in full swing. Woodland dropped in the first 14 tries from the line before its only miss of the quarter, finishing off a sizzling 17-of-18 in the period and 21-of-25 for the night.

“Give them credit. We didn’t play great, we really struggled the first half, but a lot of it’s because of them,” Marquette coach Todd Hopkins said. “They outplayed us, no question about it. (Kaminke) had them ready right off the bat … and our kids haven’t played in however long, and they didn’t have their legs, but [Woodland] really got after them too.

“Give our kids credit, too, for the way we came back. We have things to clean up, and we’ll get better, we just have to keep fighting. Tonight it was just a little too late, plus they just couldn’t miss from the line at the end. That was impressive. It’s them being focused and laser-sharp down the stretch.”