Montini run in final quarter leads to Heartbreaker for WA
Montini Catholic 67, Wheaton Academy 61

Game #22 • Tuesday, January 30, 2007 • Home • Non-Conference • 7:30 PM
Statistics • Pictures from this game

In their first home game since before Christmas break, the Warriors faced Montini Catholic on a bitter cold Tuesday night. Joel Malmquist (13 points) came out firing from the three point range, scoring 8 of the team's 18 first quarter points. At the end of one period, the game was tied 18-18.

In the second quarter, the game remained close, although Wheaton Academy jumped up to a 25-18 lead with 6:04 on the clock. The Broncos of Montini would come back to tie that score with a floating five footer before the close of the first half.

Things really clicked for WA in the third quarter. John Albaugh's driving ability was impossible to stop for Montini. Albaugh led the team overall with 17 points for the night. Freshmen Tim Rusthoven (15 points) had some good looks as well in this third quarter stretch. At the conclusion of the third quarter, Wheaton Academy held a seemingly secure 8 point, 54-46 lead.

With 3:20 left in the fourth, WA still had the lead 57-51, but the next sequence of plays quickly turned that around. Montini hit back to back three pointers to tie the game at 57, and then converted on a fast break layup off of a steal. For the first time in awhile, the Warriors found themselves down 2 points. Montini was up 62-59 with 1:30 left, and the Warriors had a good opportunity to tie the game, but Benjamin Euler's (9 points, 6 assists) three pointer would not go in.

The loss is tough for Wheaton Academy, especially in regards to seeding purposes for the state tournament, as Montini is in WA's sectional. If not for Montini's late fourth quarter run, Wheaton Academy would have held their lead for the win. WA drops to 10-11 on the season. Their next game is their last home game, senior night, on Saturday vs. Luther North.