Saturday, February 15, 2003

Pointers win 4th straight crown
Central Wisconsin Sunday

La Crosse - Josh Iserloth put up 21 points, and the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point dominated in the paint as the Pointers crushed UW-La Crosse 75-39 to clinch the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship for the fourth straight season.

The title is the Pointers' first outright honor since 2000, having shared the championship the last two years.  With lossess by UW-Whitewater and UW-Stout on Saturday, the trophy is all Point's.

"I'm so thrilled for our players and our staff," said Jack Bennett, who matched his brother Dick Bennett with four straight titles as the Pointers' head coach.  "I think about some of the great players and coaches in the league who've never won a championship, and we were able to do it four times.  It's one of those nights that's truly special."

As hot as the Pointers were in winning five straight heading into the La Crosse game, Bennett urged his charges to focus on the steps that could eventually lead to a berth in the NCAA tournament.

"Now we just want to play real tough down the stretch," said Bennett, whose Pointers host UW-Oshkosh for Senior Night on Wednesday before wrapping up the regular season slate at UW-Superior next Saturday.  "Hopefully it will be impossible to keep us out of the NCAA tourney."

His Pointers did all they could to ensure there would be no costly late-season meltdown, exploding for a 41-21 halftime lead and 52.6 percent shooting on the night, the fifth time in their last six games that Point has shot at least 50 percent from the floor.

Forward Jason Kalsow scored 14 points and led everybody with eight rebounds and three assists, and point guard Neal Krajnik offered up 11 points for Point.  Auburndale native Brian Bauer again started for an injured Nick Bennett, who may now sit out the final two regular season games with a sore back.

Stevens Point Area Senior High alumnus Casey Taggatz led La Crosse with 19 points, though Point held him to just three points in the second half.