NEW WASHINGTON — Trinity Lutheran head coach Brad Dickey felt like his team was poised to play spoiler for the host school in the sectional semifinal on Saturday night, but costly mistakes in key moments hurt the Cougars’ chances.

New Washington started the game hot, and it felt like they remained hot for most of the game as the Mustangs defeated the Cougars 57-36.

“They helped themselves there on Tuesday night (against Shawe) by having a real positive stretch of play to end their game, and they just rolled it into tonight,” Dickey said. “We had some fumbles and turnovers on what should’ve been some good plays for us. We were poised to do well. Our ball skills just escaped us at some crucial moments.”

Trinity trailed 17-7 after the first quarter, and it looked like the game could get out of hand fast, but the Cougars battled back in the second.

Trinity cut it down to six points after baskets from Levi Pottschmidt, Kowan Gross, Kole Shewmaker and Eli Ballard.

But right before the end of the half, the Mustangs had some unlikely contributors step up and make outside shots. New Washington pushed the lead back out to 12 at halftime.

“We guarded remarkably well. We just had a lopsided scouting report,” Dickey said. “Two of their players hit us for 60 points last time (on Jan. 14), and we were really poised to beat them. Their role players did a super job, just confident at home on their own floor.”

Aside from a mini run at the beginning of the third quarter, New Washington was able to keep Trinity at arms length. The Cougars got into foul trouble early on in the second half as the Mustangs actually made more free throws (17) than they did field goals (16).

Matthew Arthur and Mason Arthur led New Washington with 18 and 13 points, respectively. Paul Giltner hit four 3-pointers to score 12.

Gross led Trinity with nine points, Charlie Hackman hit two 3-pointers to score six, Luke Coomler, Ballard and Pottschmidt all had five points, Peyton Pollert had four and Shewmaker two.

Levi Froedge, Ballard and Coomler were the three seniors on the roster, and Dickey was able to give them a curtain call at the end of the game.

“Everybody in this group, especially the seniors, but all these guys are super representatives of our school and our community,” Dickey said. “They’re easy to travel with. I’m proud to be around them. They did the best they could tonight.”

New Washington (12-13) will host the sectional final tonight against Rising Sun (12-13).

Meanwhile, Trinity (6-17) will hope this experience helps the team going forward, and Dickey said the work for next year starts in the offseason.

“It’s going to depend on the offseason,” he said. “Hopefully, the trend has begun for lifting weights and working out and playing the game and improving your skills.”

Box score

New Washington Sectional

Mustangs 57, Cougars 36

Trinity Lutheran;7;8;11;10;—;36

New Washington;17;10;18;12;—;57

Trinity Lutheran (6-17): Kowan Gross 4 1-3 9, Charlie Hackman 2 0-0 6, Luke Coomler 2 0-0 5, Eli Ballard 2 1-7 5, Levi Pottschmidt 1 2-2 5, Peyton Pollert 1 2-2 4, Kole Shewmaker 1 0-0 2, Totals 13 6-14 36.

New Washington (12-13): Matthew Arthur 5 7-9 18, Mason Arthur 4 4-4 13, Paul Giltner 4 0-0 12, Connor Shaffer 2 0-0 6, Mason Thompson 0 4-6 4, Miguel Hessig 1 2-2 4, Totals 16 17-21 57.

3-point goals: TL 4 (Hackman 2, Coomler, Pottschmidt), NW 8 (Giltner 4, Shaffer 2, Mat. Arthur, Mas. Arthur).

Rebounds: TL 24, NW 26.

Fouls: TL 21, NW 12.