Skating was at a premium on Friday night as #2 Wausau West hosted #5 Superior in the third quarterfinal game of the Showdown in Titletown. A four-goal second period provided the margin of victory as West prevailed 5-2 to advance to the semifinals in Green Bay.

The game featured two of the fastest teams in the state and they put each other to the test early, flying up and down the ice. The Warriors drew first blood when Garrett Clemment fired a point shot just wide of the net where Ryan Condon was waiting at the back door to redirect it into the net. Seth Wage was also credited with an assist on the play. That was all the scoring in the first as West goalie Austin Priebe stopped all 11 shots the Spartans put on him. Superior goalie Scot Crawford had 7 saves in the period.

The Spartans tied it up five minutes into the second period with a short-handed goal. Nolan Holcombe was in the corner killing time against two West defenders when he fired a pass to Daniel Litchke in the slot. Litchke's one-timer beat Priebe for the evener. Wausau jumped back on top at the 10:28 mark as they were able to get the puck to the Spartans net and after a scramble, Anthony Caroselli batted the puck out of the air and onto his stick, which he then used to tap it into the open net. Two minutes later when Tom Kilgore intercepted an ill-advised pass by a Superior defenseman and walked in and shot past Crawford.

Superior scored at 13:07 to make it a one-goal game. Litchke controlled the face-off and got the puck to Holcombe who fired a pass from the corner to Taylor Olson in the slot. Olson's one-time eluded Priebe to make it 3-2.  West got their two-goal margin back a minute later off a face-off in the Spartans zone. Robbie Poirier drew the puck straight back and Kyle Lee came from his spot on the outside wing, picked up the puck, skated toward the slot and fired a shot over Crawford's shoulder.  Cody Hahner finished the scoring at 15:37 when he slapped in a rebound off a 3 on 2 rush with Clemment and Condon. The Warriors outshot the Spartans 19 to 14 in the period.

Superior tried desperately to get even in the third period, pouring 18 shots on Austin Priebe, but Priebe was able to stop them and West's defense was able to limit the rebound opportunities. Wausau put 14 shots on Crawford in the stanza.

Wausau West advances to take on Madison Edgewood at the Resch Center in Green Bay. Superior moves into the consolation bracket to face Catholic Memorial/Pius at the Cornerstone Arena.