Sports : Vikings celebrate WaMaC west championship; begin District play Monday

The Viking defense made scoring tough for the Sabers.

Tess Noeller, Liz Moen and Emma Horst sing the National Anthem before the varsity game.

Max Kearns is fouled while attempting a shot.

Kelyn Rickels attempts a second-half free throw.

Jake Milroy scores 2 of his 17 points on a late lay-up.

Grant Sagan goes up for a shot.

Grant Sagan scores -- again.

Kelyn Rickels attempts a shot.

Grant Sagan was fouled on this shot attempt.

The Viking crowd silently cheers Grant Sagan as he shoots a free throw.

Max Kearns passes the ball to Jake Milroy.

Senior Jake Milroy scores in the 4th.

MIlroy made 2 3-point shots in the 4th.

Max Kearns went to the line to shoot 2 after being fouled on this play.

Grant Sagan shoots, again.

VIking defenders shut down the Sabers while the offense scored a season-high 84.

Jake Milroy was fouled by a couple defenders on this play in the Vikings' win Thursday.

Happy Ending: Senior Jake Milroy leaves the game in the 4th after scoring 17 points.

Chris Merchant was fouled on this shot...

... then went to the free throw line.

Chris Merchant attempts a 3-point shot.

Grant Sagan's 30th point came on this free throw in the 4th.

Coach Joe Johnson and the Vikings celebrate their win and WaMaC West championship.

Coach Joe Johnson was the last to cut the net; he later wore it while congratulating the team.

Coach Johnson cuts down the last of the strands of the net during the post-game celebration.

The crowd watches Coach Patterson help cut down the net after the Vikings' win.

Assistant coach A.J. Wygle takes his turn at cutting down the net.

Tanner Spies.

Chase Overton

Nolan Sagan

Jake Milroy

Senior Jake Milroy takes his turn at cutting the net.

Chris Merchant

Max Griffith

Max Kearns.

Kelyn Rickels

Kelyn Rickels climbs the ladder to cut the net.

Grant Sagan

Grant Sagan, after scoring 36, was the first Viking to cut the net to celebrate WaMaC West title.

The Vikings play defense late in the game.

Coach Joe Johnson and the Vikings celebrate their win and WaMaC West championship.

Note about game tonight from VSHS office: The Vikings will host Independence tonight in first round District action at 7. The IHSAA has raised ticket prices to $6. No passes will be accepted. Come out and support our Vikings!

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Wearing what was left of the net his players had just cut down, Vinton-Shellsburg boys basketball coach told his team, "We're not done yet."

The Vikings, led by Grant Sagan's career-high 36 points, defeated DeWitt Central 84-57, in the regular season finale Thursday in Vinton. The Vikings host Independence in the first round of districts at 7 p.m. Monday Feb. 20.

After the win, the team members and coaches took turns cutting down the net in front of the VS student section, as souvenir of their 17-4 season and the WaMac West Championship.

Sagan surpassed his previous record of 24 points, thanks to good passes from other Vikings and smart shot selection, said Johnson.

"His teammates got him the ball, and he took high-percentage shots and made them," said the coach.

Sagan, however, had a one-word answer to explain the team's success: Defense.

While the Viking offense scored its highest point total of the season, the defense kept Central shooters from making many easy shots. Turnovers led to some easy baskets for the Vikes, as well.

The Vikings recorded 13 steals, including four by Max Kearns. Kearns also led the Vikings with 11 assists.

Senior Jake Milroy scored 17 points, six of them on two fourth quarter free throws. See complete game stats HERE.

The Sabers took a quick 6-0 lead on two 3-point shots, and led at the end of the first period, 17-14. But a lay-up by Sagan following a Saber turnover gave the Vikings the lead for good with seven minutes left in the second. The Vikes led, 36-28 at half-time, and 58-44 at the end of three.

With about three minutes left in the game, Johnson began resting his starters, beginning with Sagan. The crowd cheered as one-by-one the starting five, ending with Milroy, the team's only senior, took their spot on the bench.

District and Substate Pairings

The Vikings are assigned to Substate Region 4, which includes Districts 7 and 8.

District 7 games include VS vs. Independence and CPU vs. Union

The winners pf those two games will play in the District 7 final at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb 23, at Cedar Falls High School

District 8 pairings are:

W. Dubuque v. W. Delaware

Maquoketa v. Dubuque Wahlert

If the Vikings win two games this week, they will play in the Substate 4 final at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at the McLeod Center, vs. the District 8 Champion.

During the regular season, the Vikings defeated CPU (56-45), Independence (76-48) and Maquoketa (53-49, in the season opener. They lost, however, at Western Dubuque in the second game of the season, 72-47. Their other three losses came on the road, all by only two points each.