Decorah ends 45-year boys’ state basketball tournament drought

WATERLOO — It wasn’t going to be a matter of talent.

Decorah knew it had enough talent. The Vikings needed to find out if they had enough fortitude to push through a barrier six seniors hadn’t been able to crack.

Monday night, the Vikings had more than enough moxie.

Decorah took the lead for good with 6 minutes and 44 seconds left in the first quarter and never trailed in a 46-39 Class 3A substate final victory over Clear Lake at Waterloo East.

The victory vaulted top-ranked Decorah to its first boys’ state basketball tournament since 1977.

“This group set out at the beginning of the year to get to this point, get back to this game,” Viking head coach Jonathan Carlson said. “It was just a matter of pushing through and they did it. They got it done. Extremely proud of these guys. We have one of the best coaching staffs around. We were prepared, ready to go, and can’t say enough about our seniors.”

Six Decorah seniors have led the Vikings to nearly 60 wins over the past three seasons, but each of the last two postseasons, Decorah came up short. It lost in the substate semifinals in 2020, and last year in the substate finals.

“This feels amazing,” Joesph Bockman said. “I feel like we just wanted this more. I’ve had dreams forever of playing at the state basketball tournament. We came up short last year, it just feels surreal to have it now as a senior.”

While Monday’s game was never in hand, the Vikings seemed to always be in control.

Noah Storts’ offensive rebound and put-back gave Decorah a 4-2 lead just 1:16 into the game and was part of a 9-0 run that gave the Vikings an early 11-2 lead.

Decorah stretched that lead to as much as 13 in the second quarter, 24-11. The Vikings led 28-19 at half.

“It was great that we got off to a good start. That is big in any game, but especially in a game like this,” Bockman said.

Clear Lake chipped away at Decorah’s lead in the fourth quarter and two free throws by Thomas Meyer got the Lions (17-6) to within 40-36. Clear Lake then had four cracks at cutting the deficit further but couldn’t find the bottom of the net.

Then the Vikings made just enough free throws over the final minute to end a 45-year state tournament drought.

“It would’ve been nice to have made a few more free throws down there in the end,” Carlson said. “But nonetheless our kids battled through and made it.

“We are not satisfied. This group has some talent. The biggest thing was getting through this game and then seeing what happens when you get down to the state tournament.”

A big key in the victory was the defense of Jacob Pipho on Clear Lake star Carson Toebe. Toebe came into the game averaging 19.6 points per game and was a 45 percent shooter from the field. But with Pipho marking him all over the court, Toebe shot just 6 of 28 from the field and finished with 16 points.

“We had a good game plan,” Pipho said. “The coaches set us up good for this game, and we executed it to the best of our ability.”

As far as Toebe, Pipho said you had to make him shoot tough shots.

“I think I did pretty good. What, he had five points in the first half,” Pipho said. “He finished with 16, but that is under his average so I guess it is a win.”

Joseph Bockman led the Vikings with 22, including 11 in the second quarter when Decorah seized control. Storts had nine, and Trey McCain had eight, including a 6-for-6 effort from the line in the fourth quarter.

DECORAH 46, CLEAR LAKE 39

CLEAR LAKE (17-6) — Carson Toebe 6-28 1-1 16, Joe Faber 0-3 0-0 0, Thomas Meyer 4-7 2-2 10, Travaughn Luyobya 3-12 0-0 7, Jagger Schmitt 0-3 0-0 0, Tucker Jones 0-0 0-0 0, Cael Stephany 2-5 0-0 6, Jeff Neuberger 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 15-58 3-3 39.

DECORAH (22-1) — Joseph Bockman 9-20 4-8 22, Ben Bockman 1-2 0-0 2, Trey McCain 1-7 6-6 8, Noah Storts 4-9 0-0 9, Carson Wemark 2-7 1-3 5, Jacob Pipho 0-2 0-2 0. Joseph Hjelle 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-47 11-18 46.

Clear Lake 8 11 7 13 — 39

Decorah 13 15 5 13 — 46

3-point goals — CL 6 (Toebe 3, Luyobya, LStephany 2). Decorah 1 (Storts). Total fouls — Clear Lake 20, Decorah 10. Fouled out — Schmitt.