(Rockford, IL.) - Waubonsee Community College's men's basketball team saw its' season come to an end on Sunday afternoon in the Region 4 Division II Midwest District A Tournament. The eighth-seeded Chiefs (24-8) staged a valiant comeback in their semi-final match-up before falling just short in a 99-93 loss to top-seed and fifth-ranked Milwaukee Area (WI) Technical College (29-3). Waubonsee trailed by 26 points early in the second half before rallying to get within five late in the game but ran out of time. Several missed opportunities in the first half cost the Chiefs dearly in the contest played at Rock Valley College.
Waubonsee's Freddy Hassan scored on a drive to the hoop on the first possession of the game. Five minutes later the Kaneland High School product drilled a three-pointer from the left corner to give the Chiefs a 9-7 lead. However, that was Waubonsee's last lead of the game as Milwaukee Tech went on a 9-0 run. The Stormers nailed several more shots as they found their shooting touch to extend the lead to 23-13 midway through the first half. Meanwhile, Waubonsee got to the rim on numerous occasions, but could not finish in what was becoming a physical battle with very few calls by the officials. Milwaukee Tech's depth, athleticism and height advantage gradually took its toll as they grabbed a 32-19 lead with six minutes left until halftime. The Chiefs then went cold from the field while the Stormers drilled a pair of three-pointers in the final minute to take a commanding 49-31 lead at the break. Waubonsee shot just 34 percent from the field, including only 3 of 13 from long range in the first half, while Milwaukee Tech shot 50 percent from the floor.
Milwaukee Tech scored twice to begin the second half and built its lead to 56-33 with a 7-2 run. The Stormers led by 26 with 15 minutes to go and maintained at least an 18-point cushion until the 12-minute mark. Back-to-back three-pointers by Kamea Chandler gave the Chiefs some life and a pair of free throws by Chikasi Ofoma cut the deficit to 85-71 with seven minutes remaining. A minute later Hassan hammered a two-handed dunk as the Chiefs kept chipping away at Milwaukee Tech's once comfortable lead. Hassan then converted a pair of free throws to get Waubonsee within 11 points. A moment later Ehi Ogbomo buried a trey and then made a steal and scored on a lay-in to suddenly make it 93-86 with two and a half minutes left.
A short time later Ogbomo connected on a pair of free throws to cut the Stormers' lead down to five points with 2:07 to go. Down 93-88 the Chiefs then had a pair of offensive opportunities over the next minute of play but turned the ball over each time. The teams traded baskets making it 95-90 with 0:37 remaining before Waubonsee began to foul in a desperate attempt to extend the game. Milwaukee Tech's QiAndre Washington and Raydelh Boutin each made a pair of free throws to secure the outcome. Chandler then splashed a triple in the waning seconds to account for the final score.
Hassan finished with 24 points, five blocks and six rebounds to pace the Chiefs. Ogbomo was right behind him with 23 points, including a trio of three-point baskets. The Plainfield East High School graduate also grabbed seven boards and handed out six assists. Chandler nailed three shots from beyond the arc on the way to tallying 15 points. Ofoma chipped in with 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. Waubonsee shot 61.8 percent from the field in the second half to get back into the game, booking 62 second half points. But the Chiefs made only 13 of 20 foul shots (65 percent) while the Stormers went 11 of 12 from the line. Milwaukee Tech owned a 24-8 advantage in second chance points courtesy of 18 offensive rebounds. The Stormers advance to the title game this coming Saturday, March 7 where they will face fourth-seeded and 17th ranked Bryant & Stratton (WI) College (25-7) which downed fifth-seeded Moraine Valley Community College 58-53 in the other semi-final match-up. Tipoff is set for noon at Rock Valley College in Rockford.