2004-05 WIAC Men's Basketball Headlines

2004-05 WIAC Men's Basketball Headlines

UW-Stevens Point's Bennett Announces Retirement

RELEASED: Friday, August 19, 2005

Stevens Point, Wis.--After winning back-to-back NCAA Division III championships, Jack Bennett has announced his retirement as the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

The Pointers’ coach leaves after nine illustrious seasons that resulted in five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles, five NCAA tournament appearances and the two national championships. Bennett departs as the school’s all-time winningest coach with a 200-56 record.

“Jack Bennett has brought national recognition to our university and, specifically, to our men’s basketball program,” said UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Linda Bunnell. “He is one of the nation’s esteemed basketball coaches. The legacy of success Coach Bennett leaves behind should be measured not only by his success on the court, but just as important, by the development of character and citizenship of the young men of whom we are very proud.”

“The five conference titles and the 2004 and 2005 NCAA national championships have proven to me that dreams can come true,” Bennett said. “I will always consider UW-Stevens Point the heart and soul of my coaching career.”

Associate head coach Bob Semling has been named the interim head coach. Semling has been with the team for the past two seasons and was also an assistant at UW-Stevens Point from 1988-95.

Bennett’s coaching career spanned 34 years throughout Wisconsin high school and collegiate basketball. He began in 1971 at Park Falls High School before stops at Marinette and Wisconsin Rapids High Schools. After five seasons as an assistant coach at UW-Eau Claire, Bennett coached seven years at Rhinelander High School prior to replacing Bob Parker at UW-Stevens Point in 1996-97. His all-time career head coaching record, including high schools, is 480-175.

“We’re very grateful and very proud of the tremendous job Jack has done here at UW-Stevens Point,” Athletic Director Frank O’Brien said. “He has certainly established our program as a premier program in Division III basketball.”

He won conference championships at every stop in his career and had only one sub-.500 season, coming when his 1979-80 Wisconsin Rapids squad finished 10-11. Every one of his teams was at least .500 in conference play as he was a part of 13 conference championships.

His departure from UW-Stevens Point isn’t the first time he left a job on top. In fact, his final Rhinelander, UW-Eau Claire and Marinette teams all won conference titles, while the Wisconsin Rapids and Park Falls teams won titles the previous season. Those final teams at each of his six coaching stops combined for a 124-23 record. Like his brother, Dick, who retired from Wisconsin in November 2000 and later accepted the job at Washington State in March 2003, Bennett acknowledged he may not be finished coaching.

“I am not sure if this is a permanent retirement from coaching or simply a period of time for me to catch my breath and recharge for a future challenge,” said Bennett, noting that he never missed a game among his 809 career contests. “I simply know that I am somewhat more cognizant of the demands and battles that are inherent with coaching, recruiting, travel, running camps and fulfilling the duties of this job.”

Bennett had the fortune of coaching his sons for his final eight seasons. His son, Nick, played the past four seasons for the Pointers and was a first-team All-American performer as a senior. His eldest son, Jay, played the previous four years from 1997-2001, while also playing under his father at Rhinelander.

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UW-Stevens Point's Kalsow and Nechuta Both Named D-III News National Players of the Year

RELEASED: Friday, April 8, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Already the first duo in NCAA history from the same school to be named men's and women's basketball Players of the Year by their respective coaches' associations, Jason Kalsow and Amanda Nechuta each added another honor as the D-III News National Players of the Year.

They are each the first UW-Stevens Point players to earn the honor in the 12-year history of the publication. Kalsow shared the men's Player of the Year award with Seth Hauben of Rochester (N.Y.), marking the first co-Players of the Year in the publication's history. In fact, the two went head-to-head in this year's Division III championship game with the Pointers taking a 73-49 victory over Rochester for their second consecutive national title.

Kalsow, a 6-7 forward from Huntley, Ill., was the Most Valuable Player of this year's Division III final four and started all 121 games in his four-year career. This year's WIAC Player of the Year, he is UW-Stevens Point's all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 1,859 points and 883 rebounds. He also had a school record 731 field goals made and was second in school history with 465 assists.

Nechuta, a 5-10 forward from Mosinee, Wis., was the first two-time winner of the WIAC Player of the Year award and set UW-Stevens Point's all-time scoring record with 1,801 points over the past four years. The point total ranks third in WIAC history and Nechuta also set a school record with 681 field goals made. She led the WIAC in scoring for the third straight year by scoring 16.8 points per game.

Both UW-Stevens Point squads captured WIAC championships this season with the men finishing 29-3 overall and the women posting a 21-6 overall record.

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UW-Stevens Point's Kalsow Named National Player of the Year; Bennett Earns All-America Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, March 24, 2005

Madison, Wis.--After winning a second straight NCAA Division III men's basketball championship and rewriting UW-Stevens Point's career records book, senior Jason Kalsow has been named the Division III Player of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Kalsow was also the Basketball Times National Player of the Year and a first-team All-American selection by D3hoops.com. Teammate Nick Bennett was also named first-team All-American by Basketball Times and D3hoops.com, while earning third-team NABC All-American honors. Head coach Jack Bennett was selected as the Basketball Times Coach of the Year.

Kalsow's Player of the Year honor marks the second straight year a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player has won the award after Rich Melzer of UW-River Falls was selected last year. UW-Platteville's Merrill Brunson is the league's only other winner in its 23-year history, claiming the honor in 1999. Kalsow will be honored at the NCAA Division I Final Four in St. Louis at the NABC awards banquet on April 3.

His award comes just two days after UW-Stevens Point's Amanda Nechuta was announced as the Division III women's Player of the Year. It marks the first time in any NCAA division that a school has had both Player of the Year winners in the same year. In fact, UW-Stevens Point becomes the first Division III school ever to have both a men's and women's national Player of the Year in its history.

Kalsow, a native of Huntley, Ill., was the Most Valuable Player of this year's Division III final four and started all 121 games in his four-year career. He is UW-Stevens Point's all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 1,859 points and 883 rebounds. He also had a school record 731 field goals made and was second in school history with 465 assists.

Kalsow is the third NABC first-team All-American in school history, joining Terry Porter in 1985 and Brant Bailey in 2000. He led the WIAC with 19.1 points per game, 4.4 assists per game and a 48.9 three-point field goal percentage. He was also second in the league in rebounding at 7.4 per game. He ranked among the top 15 in all 12 WIAC statistical categories.

Nick Bennett, a senior guard from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), finished third in school history in career scoring with 1,646 points. He set a school record and ranks second in WIAC history with 232 career three-pointers and eclipsed his own single-season school record with 88 three-pointers this year. Bennett ranked second in the WIAC in scoring at 18.3 points per game and was sixth in the nation in free throw shooting at 89.4 percent. Bennett was at his best in the NCAA tournament, averaging 23.2 points and shooting 57.0 percent from three-point range in 12 career tournament games.

Jack Bennett was the D-III News National Coach of the Year last season and is the third coach to guide a team to back-to-back national titles. He is UW-Stevens Point's all-time winningest coach and ranks second among active Division III coaches in winning percentage with a 200-56 career record.

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UW-Stevens Point's Bennett Secures 200th Career Victory

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point head coach Jack Bennett secured his 200th career victory in the Pointers' 73-49 victory over Rochester (N.Y.) in the NCAA Division III national championship game on March 19.

Bennett, who just completed his ninth season with UW-Stevens Point, owns a 200-56 career record (.781 winning percentage). He is the school's all-time winningest coach and ranks 12th on the conference's all-time chart.

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UW-Stevens Point Wins Second Straight Men's Basketball National Championship

Salem, Va.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point capped off one of the most impressive postseason runs in NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament history with the largest margin of victory in a national championship game, rolling past Rochester (N.Y.) 73-49 on March 19 to become the third school in Division III history to win back-to-back titles.

The win was custom of the Pointers’ entire season that saw them win all but one of their 29 victories by six points or more. In fact, UW-Stevens Point’s five tournament victories came by an average of 21.0 points per game.

The Pointers matched last year’s school record for wins with a 29-3 record and the win was also the 200th career victory in just nine seasons for coach Jack Bennett. UW-Stevens Point is the first repeat champion since UW-Platteville in 1998-99. North Park (Ill.) won three straight titles from 1978-80.

“It wasn’t as dramatic as last year, but it was just as sweet,” said Bennett, whose team used a last-second shot to win last year’s game 84-82 over Williams (Mass.). “This was a close game at halftime and we just played an outstanding second half.”

Both teams played solid defense in the first half and it was a pair of underclassmen who gave the Pointers a 28-25 halftime advantage. Sophomore Jon Krull had 13 points and five rebounds before halftime while finishing with season-high totals of 22 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Steve Hicklin hit a three-pointer in the final minute of the half that gave UW-Stevens Point its three-point cushion. The Pointers held a momentary six-point lead, but the first half was tied at seven different times.

The second half was a different story, however, as the Pointers hit eight of their first nine shots to open up an early 10-point lead at 38-28 with 17:11 left. They cruised the rest of the way, hitting 64.0 percent of their shots in the second half and playing a stifling defense that held Rochester to just 28.6 percent after halftime and 32.6 percent for the game.

“They are a very, very good team and they exposed some of our weaknesses,” said Rochester coach Mike Neer. “They are well-coached, they don’t care who gets the credit and they get it done.”

Offensively, the story for the Pointers was senior Nick Bennett, who didn’t score in the first half while saddled with two fouls, but then came out on fire in the second half, making his first five shots and scoring 15 points in the first eight minutes of the half.

“He came out and had the half of his life,” Jack Bennett said of his son, who ended his career with 1,646 points and just three points shy of second place on the school’s all-time scoring list. “When we’re clicking on all cylinders we’re tough to defend.”

“I just set forth the goals I always set,” Nick Bennett explained. “Get open looks, get the ball to open teammates and play good defense.”

Meanwhile, UW-Stevens Point’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Jason Kalsow, concluded his career with 15 points and six rebounds, including a baseline dunk with 1:51 left for his final basket. The Pointers’ title was the eighth national championship for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference since 1983.

“You can’t get complacent in the WIAC,” said Kalsow of the team’s drive to repeat as national champions. “We stayed hungry and we never thought about it until we got back here to the final four. You just have to get your job done and win games.”

It was UW-Stevens Point’s 11th straight win in the NCAA tournament and the Pointers are now 16-3 all-time in the postseason.

“For this group and for Nick and I to go out like this is beyond anything I could have hoped for,” Jack Bennett said. “I still am shocked we’re back-to-back champs. These guys simply play their best when the pressure’s the greatest.”

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UW-Stevens Point Returns To Men's Basketball National Championship By Beating York

Salem, Va.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will get a chance to defend its NCAA Division III men’s basketball championship after dismantling York (Pa.) 81-58 in the national semifinals on Friday in Salem, Va.

The Pointers are now 28-3 and will take on Rochester (N.Y.) in the title game on Saturday at 4 p.m. central time. Rochester defeated Calvin (Mich.) 65-62 in the other semifinal. UW-Stevens Point is attempting to become the third team to win back-to-back titles and first since UW-Platteville in 1998-99. York finished the season 28-3 and had lost its previous two games by three points and one point, respectively. The Spartans had a school record 14-game winning streak snapped.

It was another outstanding all-around performance from the Pointers and senior forward Jason Kalsow as they drained 12 three-pointers and had 22 assists with just six turnovers.

Kalsow was a one-man show with 20 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks. The senior hit three three-pointers in an effort that came off a game in the sectional final that saw him score a season-low eight points.

“I struggled a little bit in the sectional,” Kalsow said. “I know it’s the final four, but I’ve been taught since I was a little boy that your next game is the biggest.”

“If you put too much emphasis on Kalsow and (Nick) Bennett, the other guys will hurt you,” said York coach Jeff Gamber. “We didn’t do a good job with that and I give them credit.”

The Pointers were draining threes all night as six different players combined to finish 12-for-24 from behind the arc. York, meanwhile, was held to 44.2 percent shooting and a season-low point total after entering the game against the nation’s second-ranked defense averaging 80.9 points per game.

“They had tremendous ability and tremendous size,” Gamber said. “Their length at all positions made it difficult to play a good game. Their defense making it difficult for us was the key to the game.”

UW-Stevens Point trailed 8-7 early in the game, but got two consecutive three-pointers from Kyle Grusczynski and another from Bennett to spark a 9-0 run and take control. After York closed to 20-14, the Pointers went on a 10-2 run for a 30-16 lead. UW-Stevens Point had the lead as big as 19 points in the first half before York closed the first half with five straight points and a three-pointer from Kenny Fass at the horn to pull within 40-26 at the half.

Fass, who led York with 13 points, hit another three-pointer to open the second half and brought the Spartans within 11 points, but the Pointers got two straight layups from Eric Maus and a three-pointer from Kalsow to push the lead back to 47-29 three minutes into the second half.

York’s closest penetration the rest of the way was 15 points at 61-46 with 9:35 left, but Brian Bauer hit a three-pointer for the Pointers as they cruised to the finish.

UW-Stevens Point shot 46.2 percent from the field, but owned a 39-27 rebounding advantage. In fact, the Pointers had 19 offensive rebounds on their 37 missed shots.

Bennett added 16 points and had four three-pointers, moving into third place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,628 career points. Maus had 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Grusczynski scored 13 points.

“It’s an 80-minute weekend,” Pointers’ coach Jack Bennett said. “We played a pretty solid 40 minutes tonight and we need to play a great 40 minutes tomorrow.”

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Six Named To D3hoops.com All-West Region Men's Basketball Squad

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's basketball players have been named to the 2005 D3hoops.com All-West Region Team. UW-Stevens Point's Nick Bennett and Jason Kalsow were named to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Casey Drake, UW-Oshkosh's Jim Capelle, UW-Platteville's Brad Reitzner and UW-Whitewater's Angelo Griffin were third team choices.

The D3hoops.com All-West Region Team had five individuals named to each of three teams and was voted on by sports information directors throughout the region. The west region includes the WIAC, Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Northwest Conference and Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Bennett, a senior guard from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), was an all-region third team selection last season. He ranks second in the conference with 18.4 points per game and a 90.0 free throw percentage, while placing third with a 44.2 three-point field goal percentage and sixth with a 49.9 field goal percentage. Bennett ranks fourth in school history with 1,612 career points and is the school's all-time leader with 224 three-pointers.

Kalsow, a senior forward from Huntley, Ill., claimed all-region second team honors a year ago. He was named the WIAC Player of the Year earlier this year and was also one of 10 finalists for the Jostens National Player of the Year award. He leads the WIAC with 19.2 points per game, 4.4 assists per contest and a 48.1 three-point field goal percentage, while placing third with 7.3 rebounds per game. Kalsow is the school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 1,824 points and 865 rebounds.

Drake, a senior guard from Rhinelander, Wis., ranks fourth in the league with 18.0 points per game, seventh with 3.08 assists per contest and ninth with a 45.1 field goal percentage. He scored in double figures in every game but one this season and registered 20 or more points 10 times. Drake finished his career 20th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,177 points.

Capelle, a sophomore forward from Wisconsin Dells, Wis., was one of two sophomores to earn all-region honors this year. He placed sixth in the conference with an 83.1 free throw percentage and ninth with 14.4 points per game, 5.4 rebounds per contest and a 39.0 three-point field goal percentage. He started all 27 contests for the Titans and scored 14 or more points in 15 games, including a career-best 28 against Cardinal Stritch on December 30.

Reitzner, a senior guard from Stoughton, Wis., was a second team all-region choice a year ago. This season, he ranks second in the WIAC with 2.62 three-point field goals made per game, fifth with 15.3 points per contest and eighth with an 81.0 free throw percentage. Reitzner tied a career high with 31 points against UW-Stevens Point on January 26 and finished his career 17th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,204 points.

Griffin, a senior center from Milwaukee, Wis. (Bay View H.S.), led the league in with a 59.2 field goal percentage, while ranking second with 7.4 rebounds per game and seventh with 14.9 points per contest. Griffin led the Warhawks in scoring in 12 games this year, while registering five double-doubles. He topped the school's all-time record book with a 62.5 career field goal percentage.

UW-Whitewater's Angelo Griffin captured first team status after claiming honorable mention honors last year. He leads the league in field goal percentage (.592), while ranking second in rebounding (7.4) and defensive rebounds (5.07), fourth in offensive rebounds (2.29) and seventh in scoring (14.9) and blocked shots (.71). Griffin led the Warhawks in scoring in 12 contests this year, while registering five double-doubles.

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WIAC Men's and Women's Basketball Officials Selected For Final Four

RELEASED: Monday, March 14, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) have been selected by the NCAA to work the Division III Men's and Women's Basketball Final Four.

Dick Bestor, Mike Bunge and Brad Pressentin have been chosen to work one of the men's games in Salem, Virgina, while Scott Doberstein and Barbra Fagan will work one of the women's contests in Norfolk Beach, Virginia.

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UW-Stevens Point Edges Trinity To Return To Final Four

Stevens Point, Wis.--It didn’t take a buzzer beater this time, but it nearly did to get the UW-Stevens Point men’s basketball team back to the NCAA Division III semifinals.

The Pointers, who had their three previous sectional championship games decided on shots at the final horn, fought off a pesky Trinity (Texas) team in the final minutes to secure a 61-55 victory on Saturday at the Quandt Fieldhouse. UW-Stevens Point advances to face York (Pa.) in the national semifinals on Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern time in Salem, Va.

“To be able to win a game like this, that was a true definition of a gut-check,” Pointers’ coach Jack Bennett. “I can’t say enough about the way these guys executed down the stretch.”

With the game tied at 50-50 with 2:28 left, Pointers’ senior Kyle Grusczynski hit a left-handed scooping layup in the lane to put the Pointers ahead. Trinity worked the ball into 6-10 center Sean Devins, who missed a short shot and Nick Bennett rebounded for the Pointers.

Bennett then drove the baseline and, while being fouled, tossed up a shot with two seconds left on the shot clock that sat on the rim for nearly two full seconds before falling through. He converted the free throw for a 55-50 lead with 1:41 remaining. Jason Morris hit two free throws for the Tigers to pull Trinity within three and the Tigers had a chance to tie after forcing a turnover with 48 seconds left.

Morris, who had a team-high 20 points, then had an open look from the top of the key, but missed and Krull grabbed the rebound with 36 seconds remaining.

UW-Stevens Point sealed the game at the free throw line, hitting all seven attempts in the final 1:41 of the game.

“It was one of those grind-it-out kind of games,” Pointers’ forward Jason Kalsow said. “We have total confidence in our system and people stepped it up and made plays.”

UW-Stevens Point finished the season 18-0 at home and Saturday’s game was the first decided by fewer than 10 points. In fact, it was only the Pointers’ second game all season - win or lose - decided by eight points or less. However, Jack Bennett eluded to the Pointers’ close games in previous tournaments and another raucous crowd to carry them through.

“You can’t be this good under pressure without being in the fire,” Jack Bennett said. “We ignited it with some plays, but this crowd took it over the top.”

“We’ve never played in front of anything like this,” Morris said of the crowd. “I just tried to use this energy and pretend they were cheering for me rather than against me.”

UW-Stevens Point opened up an early lead and led 28-19 with 2:52 left in the half, but Trinity closed the half with five straight points as Chad Stroberg hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. The Tigers had nine offensive rebounds at the half, but just two in the second half.

Trinity took the lead on a three-pointer by Morris at 33-32 with 14:16 left on the first of eight lead changes in the second half. Neither team led by more than four points until Bennett’s three-point play put the Pointers up by five points.

Bennett had 28 points and was named the tournament Most Valuable Player while passing Terry Porter for fourth place on the school’s all-time scoring list. Kalsow and Eric Maus were also on the all-tournament team. Kalsow finished with eight points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but had a streak of 63 games scoring in double figures come to an end.

Morris also was an all-tournament pick along with Peter Murray, who had 12 points and seven rebounds. Devins had six points and 10 rebounds while affecting nearly every inside play by the Pointers.

For UW-Stevens Point, it will be the Pointers’ second trip to the semifinals as they look to become the first team to repeat as champion since UW-Platteville in 1998-99. The Pointers are now 14-3 in NCAA tournament games in Jack Bennett’s nine seasons.

“This is really special,” Nick Bennett said. “I remember when I was a senior in high school and talking with my dad we hoped we could get our program to this kind of level. I really feel like we have one of the best programs in the country and it’s great to be able to play at this level.”

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UW-Stevens Point Defeats Puget Sound In NCAA Men's Basketball Sectional Semifinals

Stevens Point, Wis.--Steve Hicklin probably didn’t sleep much during the week of his first career start, but any sleep he did get probably didn’t include dreams that his performance would turn out so well.

The freshman point guard scored 15 points and was nine-for-nine at the free throw line while navigating through hounding Puget Sound pressure the entire night as UW-Stevens Point beat the Loggers in the NCAA Division III sectional semifinals for the second straight year with an 81-63 victory on Friday in Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point is now 26-3 overall and will host Trinity (Texas) in the sectional finals on Saturday at 7 p.m. with a berth in the national semifinals in Salem, Va. at stake.

Hicklin, who was a third-string guard much of the season but was forced into duty after each of the top two guards suffered broken hands, had scored a total of 45 points all season and played just 154 total minutes before seeing 37 minutes on Friday.

“I actually tried not to think about it too much,” Hicklin said of the start in place of Tamaris Relerford, who broke his hand in the second round win over Lawrence.. “It was hard, though, with everyone coming up to me all week asking, ‘are you nervous?’ I just wanted to concentrate on not turning the ball over and I was more excited than nervous.”

Hicklin had just two turnovers for the game with both coming in the final 13:14. UW-Stevens Point also handled the Loggers’ pressure with 14 turnovers for the game against a defense that forces 23.3 per game.

“Tamaris really did a good job of remembering what he did against them last year and communicating that to me,” Hicklin said. “I wasn’t out there by myself tonight.”

The Pointers opened up with a quick start as Hicklin and Eric Maus combined to score the first 10 points for an early 10-5 lead. The Pointers gradually built on the lead before a 15-2 run gave UW-Stevens Point a 39-19 lead with 43 seconds left in the half. Puget Sound, which ranked sixth in the country in offense at 94.5 points per game, scored the final four points of the half against the Pointers’ second-ranked defense to pull within 39-23 at halftime.

UW-Stevens Point maintained its lead early in the second half before a 10-2 Puget Sound run pulled the Loggers within eight points at 51-43 with 12:54 left. The Pointers scored their next nine points from the line and eventually pushed the lead back to 17 points and 64-47 with 8:56 remaining.

The Pointers made 20 of 21 free throws in the second half and Hicklin was nine-for-nine for the game. Nick Bennett finished with 22 points while Maus matched a career-high with 18 points on seven-for-seven field goal shooting and four-for-four free throw accuracy. Jason Kalsow added another all-around performance of 16 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

“As usual, this was another hard-fought, physical battle,” said UW-Stevens Point coach Jack Bennett, whose team beat the Loggers 100-79 last year. “They just come at you in waves. This was a good win.”

UW-Stevens Point used a zone defense throughout nearly the entire game to hold Puget Sound to 39.3 percent shooting for the game and its lowest point total of the season.

“I think the length of Stevens Point was a key,” Puget Sound coach Eric Bridgeland said. “We’re not used to that. We got a little tentative and we’re also young in the guard spots.”

The Loggers were led by Zack McVey with 19 points and Chase Curtiss with 17 points.

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UW-Stevens Point To Host NCAA Men's Basketball Sectional

Stevens Point, Wis.--Four teams from across the country will compete at the Quandt Fieldhouse in Stevens Point for a spot in the NCAA Division III final four as UW-Stevens Point will host a sectional tournament this weekend.

UW-Stevens Point will host the University of Puget Sound of Tacoma, Wash. on Friday at 8 p.m. Hanover College of Hanover, Ind. meets Trinity University of San Antonio, Texas in the first game at 6 p.m. The winners play Saturday at 7 p.m.

All tickets for the tournament are reserved seats and will go on sale Monday at the University Center. UW-Stevens Point is allocated half of the available tickets with the remaining tickets being split among the other three participating teams.

It marks the first time UW-Stevens Point has hosted a men’s sectional tournament. The Pointers are playing in their fourth sectional in nine years. They won last year’s event in Tacoma, Wash. and lost in the title games in 2000 in Storm Lake, Iowa and 1997 in Lincoln, Neb. The winner of the sectional will advance to Salem, Va. for the final four on March 18-19. UW-Stevens Point has hosted women’s basketball sectionals two of the past three years.

The Pointers also played Puget Sound in last year's sectional semifinal and defeated the Loggers 100-79.

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UW-Stevens Point Opens NCAA Tournament With Victory Over Lawrence

Stevens Point, Wis.--Nick Bennett picked up where he left off last season for the UW-Stevens Point men’s basketball team, pouring in 23 points on red-hot shooting as the Pointers opened defense of their NCAA Division III championship with a 79-45 win over Lawrence Saturday in Stevens Point.

Last season’s championship MVP scored 16 of the team’s first 25 points as the Pointers built a 10-point halftime lead and then used a 17-0 run early in the second half for their largest postseason win ever. The game was a rematch of last season’s sectional final when the Pointers beat the Vikings 82-81 in overtime.

UW-Stevens Point is now 25-3 and the top-ranked team in Division III by D3hoops.com. The Pointers advance to the sectional to face either Puget Sound (Wash.) or Buena Vista (Iowa) on Friday. Site and time will be determined on Sunday.

The game opened much like last year’s showdown with both teams shooting well from the field in a back and forth battle. Bennett hit his first four shots and had 10 points in the first 7:10 of the game before the Vikings took a one-point lead at 18-17 with 11:18 left in the first half. UW-Stevens Point turned up the defense from that point, holding the Vikings scoreless during a 10-0 run over the next 5:15 and without a field goal until a three-pointer by Dan Evans pulled Lawrence to within 30-23 with 3:23 left in the half.

A signature play of the game came at the end of the first half when the sellout crowd of 2,815 came to its feet and Lawrence was unable to get a shot attempt before the buzzer sounded.

“That was a big play at the end of the first half,” Pointers’ coach Jack Bennett said. “That hurts the psyche and I’ll give our crowd credit on that. These last four games have been incredible atmospheres that a lot of D-I’s would give their right hand for.”

UW-Stevens Point carried the momentum into the second half, hitting its first five shots and eight of its first 11 to build a 60-31 advantage with 12:35 left in the game. Bennett started the 17-0 spurt with a layup, but didn’t score again in the stretch until a three-pointer made it 59-31.

“I knew Lawrence would come out emotional,” Bennett said. “I thought if we got them in the second half on their heels, they would wear down and that’s what happened.”

“That second half we were really clicking offensively,” Nick Bennett said. “I think that translated into us playing better on defense.”

The Pointers smothered the Vikings in the second half, holding them to 26.3 percent shooting and 36.8 percent in the second half. Meanwhile, UW-Stevens Point shot 58.3 percent after halftime and 54.2 percent for the game.

“We were just a step behind everything defensively,” said Vikings’ coach John Tharp, whose 13th-ranked team ended the year 20-6 and defeated Gustavus Adolphus on the road in the opening round. “Part of that was Thursday night and part of it was Stevens Point. The shame of it for me is I didn’t think we played the way we’re capable of playing.”

“I think last year our game with them got our attention,” Jack Bennett said. “I thought we were 100 percent better defensively tonight.”

Jason Kalsow added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Jon Krull scored 13 points for UW-Stevens Point. Evans scored 10 points and Brendan Falls had nine for the Vikings.

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UW-Stevens Point's Kalsow Leads All-WIAC Men's Basketball Selections

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point senior forward Jason Kalsow was named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Year to lead the 10 individuals voted to the 2004-05 all-WIAC Men's Basketball Team by the conference coaches.

Kalsow helped UW-Stevens Point to a share of its fifth regular season league title in the last six seasons, the WIAC Tournament crown and a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament. He is a three-time all-WIAC first team selection and currently leads the conference in scoring (19.9), assists (4.22), three-point field goal percentage (.500) and defensive rebounds (5.11), while ranking second in assist/turnover ratio (2.24), third in rebounding (7.2) and field goal percentage (.572), fourth in blocked shots (1.26), sixth in offensive rebounds (2.11), 11th in free throw percentage (.767) and 12th in steals (1.15).

Kalsow is one of 10 finalists for the Jostens National Player of the Year award and is UW-Stevens Point's all-time career leader with 1,785 points, 840 rebounds and 740 field goals made. He has also started all 116 games in his career.

Kalsow becomes the fifth Pointer to win the conference player of the year award, joining Brant Bailey (2000), Jon Julius (1992), Tim Naegeli (1987) and Terry Porter (1985, 1984).

Kalsow is joined on the first team by teammate Nick Bennett, who secured first team accolades for the second straight year. Bennett places second in the league in free throw percentage (.903), third in three-point field goals made (2.52), fourth in scoring (17.7), sixth in field goal percentage (.492), three-point field goal percentage (.428) and assist/turnover ratio (1.53) and ninth in assists (2.67). Bennett owns the school's career record with 212 three-point field goals made, while ranking seventh on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,539 points.

UW-Oshkosh had a pair of individuals claim first team status after the squad compiled a 19-8 record and finished third in the league standings. Jim Capelle earned first team honors for the second straight year. He ranks sixth in the WIAC in free throw percentage (.831), seventh in defensive rebounds (4.11), eighth in three-point field goals made (2.04), ninth in scoring (14.4), rebounding (5.4) and three-point field goal percentage (.390) and 12th in field goal percentage (.425).

The Titans' Andy Jahnke places fourth in the conference in three-point field goals made (2.33), eighth in scoring (14.6), 12th in defensive rebounds (3.41), 13th in three-point field goal percentage (.364) and 14th in field goal percentage (.417) and assist/turnover ratio (1.00).

UW-Platteville's Brad Reitzner and Brandon Temperly helped the Pioneers to a share of the conference title for the first time since 1999. Reitzner secured first team honors for the second consecutive season after leading the conference in three-point field goals made (2.62), while ranking fifth in scoring (15.3) and eighth in free throw percentage (.810) and steals (1.27). He finished his career 17th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,204 points.

Temperly places ninth in the WIAC in offensive rebounds (2.08), 10th in field goal percentage (.442), 12th in rebounding (5.3), 14th in scoring (11.9) and assists (2.31) and 15th in free throw percentage (.730) and defensive rebounds (3.19). He was a honorable mention selection a year ago.

UW-Eau Claire's Casey Drake secured first team honors for the second consecutive season. He ranks third in the league in scoring (18.0), seventh in assists (3.08), ninth in field goal percentage (.451), 10th in free throw percentage (.773) and three-point field goal percentage (.380), 11th in steals (1.23) and assist/turnover ratio (1.27) and 15th in three-point field goals made (1.35). Drake finished his career 20th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,177 points.

UW-La Crosse's Joe Werner tops the WIAC in rebounding (7.7) and offensive rebounds (3.16), while placing third in defensive rebounds (4.56), fourth in field goal percentage (.562), sixth in blocked shots (.80), and 16th in scoring (11.8). Werner compiled a league-leading seven double-doubles during the 2004-05 campaign.

UW-Superior's Laron Reed leads the conference in steals (2.27), while placing second in scoring (18.2), fourth in assists (3.38), seventh in three-point field goals made (2.08) and 11th in field goal percentage (.439). He led the Yellowjackets in scoring in 17 of 26 games this season.

Named to the 2004-05 honorable mention team were: UW-Eau Claire's Dan Archambault, UW-Oshkosh's Kerry Gibson, UW-Platteville's Mark Gossens, UW-River Falls' Jeff Holt, UW-Stevens Point's Eric Maus, UW-Stout's Adam Chandler and UW-Whitewater's Jeremy Manchester and Melvin Williams.

UW-Platteville head coach Paul Combs was named the Coach of the Year by the league coaches after directing the squad to a share of the regular season conference championship and a 19-7 overall record. The 19 wins are the most for the program since the 1999 season. Combs has amassed a 35-19 record (.648 winning percentage) in his two seasons with the Pioneers.

2004-05 All-WIAC Men's Basketball Team
First Team
Name, School, Year, Position, Height, Hometown (High School)
Jason Kalsow, Stevens Point, Senior, Forward, 6-7, Huntley, Ill.
Nick Bennett, Stevens Point, Senior, Guard, 6-5, Stevens Point (SPASH)
Brad Reitzner, Platteville, Senior, Guard, 6-1, Stoughton
Jim Capelle, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Forward, 6-7, Wisconsin Dells
Angelo Griffin, Whitewater, Senior, Center, 6-7, Milwaukee (Bay View)
Laron Reed, Superior, Senior, Guard, 5-10, Broadview, Ill.
Casey Drake, Eau Claire, Senior, Guard, 6-3, Rhinelander
Brandon Temperly, Platteville, Senior, Forward, 6-4, Hazel Green (Southwestern)
Joe Werner, La Crosse, Sophomore, Forward, 6-7, Chippewa Falls (McDonnell)
Andy Jahnke, Oshkosh, Junior, Guard, 6-3, Manitowoc

Honorable Mention
Dan Archambault, Eau Claire, Senior, Guard, 6-2, Oshkosh (West)
Jeremy Manchester, Whitewater, Junior, Guard, 6-1, Racine (St. Catherine's)
Kerry Gibson, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Center, 7-1, Jefferson
Mark Gossens, Platteville, Sophomore, Forward, 6-6, Little Chute (Fox Valley Lutheran)
Jeff Holt, River Falls, Senior, Forward, 6-3, Elmwood
Eric Maus, Stevens Point, Senior, Center, 6-9, Green Bay (Southwest)
Adam Chandler, Stout, Freshman, Guard, 5-9, Burnsville, Minn.
Melvin Williams, Whitewater, Junior, Forward, 6-3, Milwaukee (Riverside)

Player of the Year: Jason Kalsow of Stevens Point
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Casey Drake of Eau Claire
Coach of the Year: Paul Combs of Platteville

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UW-Eau Claire's Drake Named Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Wednesday, March 2, 2005

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Casey Drake has been named the 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Drake, a senior from Rhinelander, Wis., is majoring in broadfield social studies-teaching and maintains a 3.53 grade point average. He was recently named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men's Basketball Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Drake is a three-time selection to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has also been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List and Honor Roll all nine semesters. This past fall, he was a recipient of the Blugold Super Six Award, which is the highest honor given to a UW-Eau Claire student-athlete recognizing both academic and athletic excellence.

Drake, a two-year team captain, has earned all-WIAC first team honors the last two seasons. He received his team's MVP and Team Inspiration Award a year ago and finished his career 20th on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,177 points.

Drake is a three-year member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has participated in a grade school reading program and community clean-up day. He also works the front desk at a UW-Eau Claire residence hall and has volunteered as a Babe Ruth baseball coach.

Drake becomes the second men's basketball student-athlete from UW-Eau Claire to receive the conference's top scholastic honor, joining Todd Oehrlein (1991).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Stevens Point's Eric Maus, UW-Stout's Luke Loney and UW-Superior's Mark Rothschadl.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-Stevens Point To Host NCAA Men's Basketball Second Round Game

RELEASED: : Sunday, February 27, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Defending national champion, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point will participate in the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament for the third straight season and host a second round game.

The Pointers will host the winner of Lawrence University/Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) on Saturday, March 5 at Quandt Fieldhouse.

UW-Stevens Point (24-3) received an automatic bid into the 48-team national field by winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament title. The Pointers are making their fifth appearance in NCAA postseason play (2005, 2004, 2003, 2000, 1997) and carry an 11-3 all-time record in NCAA Tournament games.

Lawrence University (19-5) won the Lake Michigan Conference Tournament title to earn a spot in the national field, while Gustavus Adolphus College (22-5) claimed the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament championship.

UW-Stevens Point beat both schools last season en route to the first national championship in school history.

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UW-Stevens Point's Kalsow and Nechuta Named Finalists for Jostens National Player of the Year

RELEASED: Wednesday, February 23, 2005

Salem, Va.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point seniors Jason Kalsow and Amanda Nechuta are both finalists for the Josten’s Award presented to the NCAA Division III men’s and women’s basketball Players of the Year.

The duo is among 10 finalists for each award that is given annually by the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club. The awards are presented during the men’s championship weekend in Salem on March 17.

This marks the fourth consecutive season that the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has had a finalist for the women's award. UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak and UW-Eau Claire's Becca Spaeth were finalists a year ago, with Mikolajczak winning the award. UW-Eau Claire's Kristi Channing was a finalist in 2003 and 2002, while UW-Stevens Point's was also a finalist in 2002.

Kalsow and Nechuta each set UW-Stevens Point’s all-time respective scoring records within 15 days of each other earlier this season. Buena Vista (Iowa) is the only other school with both a men’s and women’s finalist.

Kalsow, a Huntley, Ill. native, has 1,745 career points and is also the school’s all-time leading rebounder with 823 for his career. He is fourth in school history with 431 career assists and needs one more field goal to match Tim Naegeli’s school record of 689 for his career. Kalsow hit the game-winning shot with 0.2 seconds left in last year’s Division III championship game.

This season, Kalsow ranks among the leaders in all 12 of the league’s statistical categories. He leads the WIAC in scoring at 19.9 per game and assists at 4.3 per contest. Kalsow also is shooting a league-high 51.5 percent from three-point range and is third in the league in rebounding at 7.1 per game. He ranks 39th in the country in scoring and has scored in double figures in 59 straight games.

Nechuta, a Mosinee native, has 1,780 points to rank third in WIAC history and just 54 points behind the league’s career record. She holds the school record for career field goals made and ranks fourth in school history with 747 rebounds. Last season, she scored a single-season school record 617 points.

Nechuta is currently leading the WIAC in scoring for the third straight year, averaging 16.6 points per game. She is also an outstanding defensive player, ranking second in the league at 2.6 steals per game.

In addition to their basketball ability, the award also recognizes academic prowess and community service, recognizing those who fit the ideal of a well-rounded Division III student-athlete.

The other men’s finalists are J.D. Byers, Lebanon Valley (Pa.); Russ Churchwell, Oglethorpe (Ga.); Seth Hauben, Rochester (N.Y.); Adam McCoy, Aurora (Ill.); Jon Nielson, Wheaton (Ill.); Tyler Rhoten, Trinity (Conn.); Andrew Schiel, Amherst (Mass.); Tommy Stolhandske, Texas Lutheran; Eric Wiebers, Buena Vista (Iowa).

The other women’s finalists are Alyssa Antolick, DeSales (Pa.); Amy Argetsinger, DePauw (Ind.); Ashley Edwards, Concordia-Austin (Texas); Katie Maguire, Buena Vista (Iowa); Diana Martinez, Hardin-Simmons (Texas); Tara Rohde, Trinity (Texas); Megan Vig, Carleton (Minn.); Siobhan Zerilla, Wilmington (Ohio); Olivia Zurek, Bates (Maine).

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UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point Split Men's Basketball Championship

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point have split the 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's basketball championship. UW-Platteville defeated UW-Stout, 56-51, on February 19 at Johnson Fieldhouse in Menomonie and claimed a share of the title after UW-Oshkosh upended top-ranked UW-Stevens Point, 74-59, at Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh.

The Pointers had secured a share of the conference championship with a 94-66 victory over UW-River Falls on January 15 at Quandt Fieldhouse in Stevens Point.

UW-Stevens Point has won five WIAC titles in the last six years and a league-leading 22 crowns (2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1993, 1992, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1969, 1961, 1957, 1948, 1942, 1937, 1936, 1933, 1918).

UW-Platteville claimed its first championship since 1999 and 19th in school history (2005, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1993, 1990, 1988, 1975, 1959, 1958, 1956, 1954, 1953, 1948, 1943, 1928, 1927).

UW-Oshkosh took a 43-32 halftime lead on the strength of 60.9 percent shooting from the field in the first half. Andy Jahnke scored 13 of his game-high 24 points in the first half for the Titans.

UW-Oshkosh's Kerry Gibson added 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocked shots, while Andy Fernholz chipped in 15 points.

Jason Kalsow led UW-Stevens Point with 23 points and six rebounds, while Nick Bennett contributed 12 points as the Pointers allowed a season-high 74 points.

UW-Stout held UW-Platteville scoreless for the first 5:08 of the game and without a field goal for 6:55.

The Blue Devils were having their own shooting woes as they held only an 11-6 lead midway through the first stanza. UW-Platteville claimed its first lead of the game, 18-17, with 55 seconds remaining in the half on a three-pointer by Brad Reitzner.

The Pioneers never trailed again, although UW-Stout tied the score at 37-37 with 9:25 remaining in the game on two free throws by Greg Chaisson. Back-to-back three-pointers by Reitzner and Brandon Temperly started a UW-Platteville run as the Pioneers shot up to a 50-40 lead with five minutes remaining.

UW-Stout's Adam Chandler nailed a three-pointer with 1:23 left to pull the Blue Devils to within 52-49, but that would be as close as they would get.

Reitzner led all scorers with 21 points and Temperly added 12. UW-Stout got 13 points from Terry Farmer and 10 points from Chaisson.

UW-Stout shot 18 percent in the first half and improved to 39 percent in the second to finish at 27.9 percent (17-of-61). The Pioneers hit 33 percent in the first half, improved to 44 percent in the second and finished shooting at 38.8 percent (19-of-49).

UW-Platteville claimed the top seed for the WIAC Tournament due to its 2-0 mark against UW-Whitewater compared to the Pointers' 1-1 mark against the Warhawks. The Pioneers will host No. 8 seed UW-River Falls, while the Pointers earned the No. 2 seed and will host No. 7 seed UW-Superior. Additional quarterfinal matchups include No. 5 seed UW-Stout at No. 4 seed UW-Whitewater and No. 6 seed UW-Eau Claire at No. 3 seed UW-Oshkosh.

The WIAC Tournament quarterfinals begin on February 22 with the championship game being held on February 26. The tournament winner receives the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament.

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Two Earn Academic All-District Men's Basketball Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, February 17, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's basketball student-athletes have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men's Basketball Second Team. UW-Eau Claire's Casey Drake and UW-Platteville's Sean Krause both were recognized.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA players from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Drake, a senior from Rhinelander, Wis., is majoring social studies-teaching and maintains a 3.53 grade point average. He has started all 24 contests this year and leads the squad with 17.8 points per game, 34.1 minutes per contests, 79 assists and 31 steals. Earlier this season, Drake became the 36th player in UW-Eau Claire history to surpass 1,000 career points. He was an all-WIAC first team selection last season and was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Drake has also been a recipient the Blugold Super Six Award.

Krause, a sophomore from Fort Atkinson, Wis., is majoring in mechanical engineering and carries a 3.92 grade point average. He is the lone underclassman named to the team. Krause has started all 23 games this season, averaging 7.5 points per contest and leads the team with 56 assists. He has been on the Dean's List every semester and is a member of the national Alpha Lamda Delta and Tau Beta Pi Engineering honor societies.

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UW-Stevens Point's Kalsow Becomes School's All-Time Scoring Leader

Jason Kalsow became University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s all-time leading scorer in the first half of Wednesday’s (February 9) 75-64 men’s basketball victory over UW-Whitewater at Quandt Fieldhouse.

Kalsow had 20 points and 10 rebounds to give him 1,661 for his career and surpass Tim Naegeli as the school’s all-time scoring leader. Naegeli totaled 1,649 points from 1983-87. Kalsow accomplished the feat while starting all 110 games of his four-year career. His 10 rebounds moved him within 26 of a 46-year old school rebounding record held by La Vern Luebstorf.

He reached the mark with 2:43 left in the first half, but it took longer than expected. Kalsow was four-for-11 from the field after missing a layup, but got his own rebound and was fouled going back up for the shot. He missed the first free throw and then made the second to eclipse Naegeli’s mark. His performance comes just 15 days after Amanda Nechuta became the school's all-time leading women's basketball scorer.

The victory kept the Pointers in a first place tie with UW-Platteville, which defeated UW-Oshkosh to put a three-game distance between the top two teams and third place.

The second-ranked Pointers are now 19-2 overall and 11-2 in the WIAC, avenging a 71-63 loss to the Warhawks in their first meeting this year.

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UW-Stevens Point's Bennett and Egner To Receive WBCA Coach of the Year Awards; UW-River Falls' Page and UW-Whitewater's Jones To Be Inducted Into Hall of Fame

RELEASED: Tuesday, October 5, 2004

Stevens Point, Wis.--The top Division III collegiate basketball coaching awards in Wisconsin will both be presented to UW-Stevens Point as men’s basketball coach Jack Bennett and women’s basketball coach Shirley Egner will be honored as the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Division III Coaches of the Year for the 2003-04 season. Additionally, former UW-River Falls coach and administrator Don Page, along with former UW-Whitewater women's basketball coach and administrator Dianne Jones are among the 2004 inductees for the WBCA Hall of Fame.

The two Pointer coaches will be honored at the WBCA Hall of Fame banquet on Sat., Oct. 9 at the Madison Marriott West hotel. In addition to the coaching awards, former Pointer men’s basketball assistant coach John Schell and former official Ken Kulick, who attended UW-Stevens Point and has served the university in many capacities, will be inducted in the WBCA Hall of Fame.

Bennett guided the men’s basketball team to its first NCAA Division III championship and a school record for victories with a 29-5 record last season. The Pointers captured the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament title and then won six straight NCAA tournament games, knocking off defending champion Williams (Mass.) 84-82 in the national title game in Salem, Va.

Bennett currently ranks third on UW-Stevens Point’s all-time wins list with a 171-53 record through eight seasons. He needs eight wins to surpass Hale Quandt as the school’s all-time winningest coach. For his career, Bennett has a 451-172 overall record, including 19 years as a high school coach.

Egner is receiving the award for the second time in three years after leading the Pointers to their first WIAC championship since 1987. She also received the WBCA award in 2002 when the Pointers won the national title. In 2003-04, UW-Stevens Point made its second Division III Final Four appearance in three years and finished 28-5 overall. Egner is the winningest coach in UW-Stevens Point history with a 250-138 record over 15 seasons, claiming her 250th victory in last season’s sectional championship victory over Hardin-Simmons (Texas).

Egner has experienced tremendous success in recent seasons, posting a 100-19 record over the past four seasons. She was named the WIAC Coach of the Year for the first time in her career during 2003-04 and owns a 379-188 overall career record, including six seasons as a high school coach.

Page is one of six officials being inducted this year and has been a registered football official with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) since 1949 and just completed his 42nd year of helping organize the WIAA rules interpretation meetings. He has served as the Supervisor of Officials for the WIAC for the last 12 years.

Page is believed to be the only person in Wisconsin history to have played, coached and refereed in the WIAA Boys State Basketball Tournament. He has been active as a coach or official in the state for over 50 years and served as UW-River Falls' athletic director from 1970-92.

Jones is the only college coach being inducted in this year's ceremony. She won more games than any other women's basketball coach in UW-Whitewater history, has the best career winning percentage, directed the Warhawks to the most victories in a single season (25 in 1981-82), and had more winning seasons (all thirteen of her years).

Jones also served UW-Whitewater as director of women's athletics from 1987 until June 1999.

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UW-River Falls' Page and UW-Whitewater's Jones Named To State Basketball Hall of Fame

RELEASED: Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Whitewater, Wis.--Former University of Wisconsin-River Falls coach and administrator Don Page, along with former UW-Whitewater women's basketball coach Dianne Jones are among the 2004 inductees for the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Hall of Fame.

Page has been a registered football official with the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) since 1949 and just completed his 42nd year of helping organize the WIAA rules interpretation meetings. He has served as the Supervisor of Officials for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) for the last 12 years.

Page refereed the state's second Shrine Football Game in 1978 and worked the state playoff finals in 1982 and 1989. Despite stepping down from a full officiating schedule in 1986 and having hip-replacement surgery in 1989, he's worked every year since as a sub when needed.

Page developed the 'Football Course Outline' for the WIAA and is a member of the National Federation Interscholastic Officials Association. He has also received Distinguished Service awards from the Wisconsin High School Football Coaches Association, the National Federation of Interscholastic Coaches Association and the Pierce/St. Croix Officials Association. He was inducted into the Madison Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

A five sport star at Madison West High School, Page is believed to be the only person in Wisconsin history to have played, coached and refereed in the WIAA Boys State Basketball Tournament. He has been active as a coach or official in the state for over 50 years and served as UW-River Falls' athletic director from 1970-92.

Jones is the only college coach being inducted in this year's ceremony, while Page is one of six officials being honored. The 2004 inductees include eight high school coaches, three in the friends of basketball category and six officials. The induction ceremony will take place Saturday, October 9 at the Madison Marriott West (Middleton). For tickets to the banquet contact Duane Updike in Evansville (WI) at (608) 882-5471 or Jerry Mortimer at Black Hawk High School in South Wayne at (608) 439-5371 extension 112.

The WBCA has elected twenty-two college coaches to its Hall of Fame. Jones is the first woman to be honored by the group.

Jones came to UW-Whitewater as women's basketball coach and an instructor in the physical education department in 1975. She took two years off (1978-78-, 1978-79) to obtain her doctorate, then returned to UW-Whitewater. She coached thirteen years (1975-77, 1979-1990), compiling a 229-103 (.690 winning percentage) record. Her teams won three conference championships and earned eight postseason tournament bids, including a third place finish in the 1982 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Division III championship. Athletes earned All-American honors a total of twelve times under Jones' guidance. She was named conference coach of year twice (1981, 1986), regional coach of the year twice, and All-American Coach by the American Women's Sports Federation in 1984 and 1987.

Jones won more games than any other women's basketball coach in UW-Whitewater history, has the best career winning percentage, directed the Warhawks to the most victories in a single season (25 in 1981-82), and had more winning seasons (all thirteen of her years). There have been six head women's coaches since basketball became an intercollegiate sport at UW-Whitewater for the 1966-67 season.

Jones served on the AIAW and NCAA women's basketball committees, the NCAA committee on committees, the national Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America committee, and numerous other committees and study groups related to basketball and girls and women in sport. In 1995 Jones received the Women's Sports Advocates of Wisconsin Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jones also served UW-Whitewater as director of women's athletics from 1987 until June 1999.

Jones graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 1974, obtained her master's degree from Western Illinois in 1975, and a doctorate from West Virginia University in 1979.

Jones is a professor in UW-Whitewater's Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Coaching.

Jones is the second UW-Whitewater basketball coach to be honored by the WBCA. Former men's coach Dave Vander Meulen, coach at UW-Whitewater from 1978 to 2001, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001.

Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association web site: www.wisbca.org/hof.asp

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