Bowler boys basketball team eases to win over Phelps

4 Panthers score in double figures
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The Bowler High School boys basketball team used a balanced attack and strong 3-point shooting to cruise to a 75-35 nonconference win over Phelps on Jan. 5.

The Panthers were playing in front of no fans and under the direction of assistant coach Matt Brunner.

It was Phelps that opened the game on a 5-0 run before Bowler scored the next 12 points. Senior Logan Thiex and sophomore Emmitt Kietlinksi each hit two shots during the run, while junior Wylee Dodge hit a 3-pointer.

The run was a sign of things to come, as the trio of Thiex, Dodge and Kietlinski finished as Bowler’s top three scorers on the night, posting 19, 18 and 14 points, respectively.

Holding a 16-12 lead, the Panthers used an 11-0 run to create a double digit lead it wouldn’t surrender the rest of the contest. Bowler eventually led 45-18 at halftime.

Bowler used full-court pressure early in the game to create some turnovers and easy baskets on the offensive end. When the Panthers weren’t knocking down shots, they were crashing the offensive glass and getting second-chance points.

After building a big lead, the Panthers dropped back into some different half-court defenses, but stayed aggressive defending the ball handler and jumping the passing lanes.

“We worked hard yesterday most of practice in a 1-2-2 press and everyone had a certain spot they were going to play in practice and we all played really well. We came out here and said we were going to try and press and get off to a really great start and we did,” said Kietlinski. “Then we’d fall back into a 2-3 (zone) and we filled gaps and played really well in it. It was great, I was really happy with that.”

In the second half, Bowler was able to run away with the lead after getting hot from 3-point land. Dodge hit four triples and sophomore Ashwuut Mohawk two to account for 18 of the team’s 30 second-half points.

Dodge connected on three straight 3-pointers during a 14-0 Bowler run that pushed the lead to 42, 68-26, and started the running clock.

Mohawk was the fourth Panther to score in double figures, finishing with 12 points. Bowler had seven players score in the contest and got contributions from every single player that stepped on the court.

“That’s exciting because we know we got several potential players that can look to score for us,” said Thiex on having contributions up and down the lineup. “We just like to see those younger guys score. It makes us happy and makes the coaches happy.”

Phelps 18 17 — 35

Bowler 45 30 — 75

Bowler (75): Adin Brei 0-2 3, Lane Schultz 0-2 7, Ashwuut Mohawk 2-2 12, Emmitt Kietlinski 0-0 14, Logan Thiex 2-2 19, Wylee Dodge 0-0 18, Bryce Teuchert 0-0 2,

Phelps (35): Kaiden Johnson 0-2 5, Hunter Meisted 3-3 17, Jordyn Franzen 0-2 0, Michael Janovsky 0-0 13.

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