The Yellowjackets almost pulled off a miraculous comeback that would have kept their playoff hopes alive Saturday afternoon in La Crosse. Unfortunately, they ran out of gas late in the second half, and they fell to UW-La Crosse by a score of 70-62.
 
The first half was another half not to remember for the Yellowjackets, as their defense struggled mightily against the Eagles. The Yellowjackets trailed by 17 points after the first 20 minutes of play.
 
Whatever Yellowjacket Head Coach Paul Eberhardt said to his team during the break must have had an impact, as they came out with guns blazin' in the second half.
 
Ty Ketz (Clayton, Wis./Clayton) scored on a jumper to start the half. Seconds later, Ketz stole the ball and took it to the basket for two more points. The next possession, Ketz, again, was able to get to the basket and was fouled. He completed the three-point play and the lead has been cut down to 10 points with 18:41 remaining.
 
And the Yellowjackets weren't done.
 
A Cole Minnich (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) steal and layup cut the deficit to eight points, and the Eagles still remained scoreless in the half. A layup by Taylor Mattison (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake-Willow River) trimmed the deficit to six points with 15:39 remaining. Another layup by Ketz put the Yellowjackets down four points with La Crosse still looking for its first basket of the half.
 
Two free throws by Zach Schradle (Clayton, Wis./Clayton) put the Yellowjackets within two at 43-41.
 
La Crosse finally got on the board with 13:18 left in the second half on a jumper from Jared Staege.
 
The two teams continued to battle, trading three-pointers and layups. The Yellowjackets finally took the lead, 56-55 on two free throws by Ketz with 6:04 to play. That lead wouldn't last very long as the Eagles finally got their offense going, scoring six straight points to take a 61-56 lead.
 
Superior wasn't able to get closer than three points, which they did just once, the rest of the way.
 
Ketz led Superior with 16 points, as all five starters scored in double-figures. Schradle finished with 13, Minnich had 11, and Caleb Burch (Eau Claire, Wis./Altoona) and Brian Lindblom (Spooner, Wis./Spooner) each finished with 10 points.
 
Schradle led the Yellowjackets with eight rebounds.
 
The loss puts the Yellowjackets out of the playoff picture, almost for good, as their record is now 8-14 overall and 2-11 in the WIAC.
 
They will have a week off and won't play until next Saturday when they travel to UW-Oshkosh. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.