WA Falls 39-29 in Defensive Battle vs. Benet

Game #8 • Tuesday, December 12, 2006 • Away • Non-Conference • 7:00 PM

It was a defensive battle on both ends of the court Tuesday night in Lisle in a non-conference game against the Benet Academy Redwings. Both teams struggled to score throughout the game as is seen by the final score, 39-29. The Redwings outscored Wheaton Academy 11-8 in the opening quarter, but the game was evenly played in the second quarter. For the Warriors, Joel Malmquist (team high 16 points) scored 12 first half points. Tough defensive pressure on Benjamin Euler kept him silent in the first half, while WA limited Benet's big-man Nelligan to just 5 first half points. At the half, Benet Academy led 20-16.

The Redwings took advantage of a number of poor Wheaton Academy decisions in the third quarter, outscoring the Warriors 12-5 to gain 32-21 lead going into the fourth quarter. With the advantage of an 11 point lead, a well-coached Benet team was disciplined offensively, taking only shots from underneath the basket for the most part. The Warriors battled back, bringing the defacit within 8 points, but it was too late--as Benet defeated the Warriors in a low-scoring, well-officiated, and cleanly played contest.

Joel Malmquist led all scores with 16 points, including three 3-pointers and shooting 5/6 from the free throw line. Benjamin Euler scored 6, and John Albaugh added 4 points. For Benet, #44 Haggerty led his team with 14 points, while #35 Nelligan scored only two buckets, but totalled 9 points for the game.

Wheaton Academy moves to 2-6 on the season, and will have Wednesday and Thursday before resuming league play at Timothy on Friday. A Saturday night game in Wheaton versus St. Francis will also test the Warriors, to close out the front end of the season before playing on January 5 in Texas.