MARCH 12, 2024 EDITION SPORTS EDITOR: BECKY WALZ + BECKY.WALZ@DRIFTLESSJOURNAL.COM
Semifinal loss stings for Viking boys Big things have come to the Decorah boys’ basketball team as they wrapped up the 2023-24 season in the state basketball semifinals Thursday. Two years ago when the Vikings made it to state for the first time in 45 years, they got a taste of success and it continued this season as they returned to Wells Fargo Arena as the top seed in Class 3A with a 21-2 record. Decorah also earned a share of the Northeast Iowa Conference title at 9-1 with Waverly-Shell Rock and was ranked high throughout the season as the most successful team in school history.
Driving by an Assumption player is Ben Bockman.
Overtime Decorah’s 66-42 win over Williamsburg Tuesday, March 5, was the program’s first-ever state tournament win advancing the Vikings into Thursday’s semifinal with Davenport Assumption. From the get-go, fans of both teams could feel that the game would come down to the wire. The Assumption Knights put up the first points off the game with senior Trey McCain answering the call with a jumper. Matthew Bockman gave the Vikes their only lead of the first period off a steal that he took to the hoop to make it 4-2. Cael LaFrentz added another short shot for a 6-5 advantage that later disap-
Ben Bockman raises the trophy after Thursday’s semifinal.
peared as the Knights put up seven unanswered points. Ben Bockman got Decorah back to within one with 21 ticks on the clock as the teams wrapped up the first quarter with a 9-8 Assumption lead. It was nearly two minutes into the second quarter before any points were put on the board and it came in the form
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Passing the ball from the baseline is Zach Driscoll.
Matthew Bockman puts the ball off the glass for a layup.
Andrew Rhodes goes up for a block attempt.
There was a big crowd on hand for the Vikings at Thursday’s semifinal. (Driftless Multimedia photos by Becky Walz)
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