An extended run by Sheboygan Christian to end the first half caused the Gibraltar Vikings to take an early exit from the WIAA Division 5 Tournament, losing the game 65-38.
Two early three-pointers from Braden Kita helped the Vikings weather the early push made by the Eagles' Brock Zylstra and Josh Kautzer as they took a 12-8 lead about halfway through the first half. The tide turned from there as the Eagles switched up defenses and began hitting their shots, scoring 17 of the next 21 points to take a 25-16 lead into the locker room.
The Eagles did not relent defensively, and Zylestra took the game over, scoring 18 of his game-high 28 points after the break. The Vikings could only manage a few buckets early before Kayin Jackson began loosening things up with his dribble drives into the lane. The bulk of their seven shots made from the field came in the final minutes as the Eagles held onto a 30-plus point lead.
Complementing Zylstra's 28 points for the Eagles were Josh Kautzer's 13 and eight points from Cameron Ferraino. The Vikings received nine points from Jackson and eight points from Lindenberg and Jeffrey Mize. The Eagles will face Hilbert in the second round, while the Vikings enter the offseason after posting a record of 4-20 on the year.
