BOYS BASKETBALL: Panthers lose by a point; Mustangs still perfect

Four players scored in double digits, but the valiant comeback effort by the Oconto Falls boys basketball team came up one point short in a 71-70 loss to Peshtigo in non-conference action Dec. 16.

Peshtigo led 36-26 at the half. Oconto Falls’ 44-35 second half brought them within a point of a tied game and forced overtime.

J.J. Pytleski scored 17 points including a trio of 3-pointers. Jameson Beaman had 16 points including a pair of 3-pointers. Alex Haines scored 11 points, and Emerich Skarban knocked down 10.

Haines led the team with 10 rebounds. Brady Bursa, Haines and Beaman each had five assists, and Haines had four steals.

Marion boasts perfect record

Marion stayed perfect at 8-0 overall with a 50-35 non-conference win Dec. 15 over Elcho. The Mustangs led 34-15 at the half, while the Hornets won the second half 20-16.

Oconto Falls loses to Waupaca

Oconto Falls played close and had a very strong second half Dec. 15, but the Panthers came up short, losing 59-55 to Waupaca in North Eastern Conference action.

Waupaca led 28-17 at the break, but Oconto Falls battled back and won the second half 38-31, coming just four points short of forcing overtime.

Alex Haines led Oconto Falls with 15 points, including two 3-pointers, and J.J. Pytleski had 14, including four 3-pointers.

Haines pulled down 14 boards and led with three assists. Three steals each were credited to Evan Yuma and Pytleski.

The Panthers are 2-5 overall but 0-5 in conference play.

Pulaski gets 1st conference win

The Red Raiders claimed their first Fox River Classic Conference win of the season Dec. 15 as they defeated Green Bay Southwest 80-54.

Pulaski improved to 1-2 in conference action and 4-2 overall.

Bonduel mounts comeback

After trailing by 20 at one point in the first half Dec. 14, Bonduel outscored Weyauwega-Fremont 41-18 in the second half to come back and win 74-63.

The Bears were still trailing 45-33 at the break, but the team kicked it into high gear to earn the Central Wisconsin East Conference game and improve to 3-0 in league play and 4-1 overall.

Noah Weier led Bonduel with 21 points. Race Anvelink added 19, while Cade Johnson and Colin Margelofsky each scored 12.

Bowler dominates White Lake

In its first Central Wisconsin North Conference game of the season Dec. 14, Bowler was more than doubled up on by White Lake as the Panthers lost 56-27.

Bowler remains winless on the year at 0-5 overall.

Bowler led 15-14 at the break, but the Lakers stormed back and won the second half 42-12 to claim victory.

Tigers tame Wildcats

Tigerton had little difficulty in earning a 61-34 win over Gresham in Central Wisconsin North Conference action Dec. 14.

Each half was nearly identical in scoring, as Tigerton won the first half 30-18 and outscored Gresham 31-16 in the second half.

Maverick Maas and James Brady led the Tigers with 14 points each. Loghan Wanta led with six rebounds, Sam Anheuser had three steals, and Cameron Carlson, Joey Zimdars, Anheuser and Brady each had one assist.

Tigerton improved to 2-1 in the conference and 5-1 overall, while Gresham fell to 0-2 and 0-6.

Lena loses 3rd conference game

Lena has had no luck in Marinette & Oconto Conference action this year, losing its third contest 65-27 to Crivitz on Dec. 14. Lena, 0-3 in league play, is 3-3 overall with three non-conference wins.

It was all Crivitz as the hosts led 46-14 at the half. Lena was outscored 19-13 in the second half.

Lena’s top scorer was Mason Spice with nine points.

Gillett defeats Wausaukee

Gillett moved to 3-1 in Marinette & Oconto Conference action with a 68-35 win Dec. 14 over Wausaukee. The visitors led 38-19 at the half and outscored Wausaukee 30-16 in the second half.

Aydin Franti led the Tigers with 24 points. Jesse DeBauch scored 14, and Ben Matczak added 10.

Witt-Birn beats Menominee Indian

Four Chargers scored in double digits Dec. 14 as Wittenberg-Birnamwood defeated Menominee Indian 75-44 in Central Wisconsin East Conference action.

“Balanced attack last night,” Witt-Birn coach Garrett Rogowski said. “A lot of guys contributed and gave us valuable minutes.”

Jett Rogowski led with 23 points, followed by Oliver Fraaza with 11, and Jaden Clark and Hudson Miller each with 10.

Barron Waupoose led the Eagles with 12 points.

The Eagles are 0-3 in conference action and 0-6 overall. The Chargers are 2-1 and 3-3.

Suring falls to St. Thomas

The Eagles played a good game at the start Dec. 14, but St. Thomas Aquinas Academy was too much in the second half as they defeated Suring 53-36 in Marinette & Oconto Conference action.

Leading by just two at the half, 27-25, STAA outscored Suring 26-11 in their coast to a victory.

Suring is 9-4 in conference action and 1-5 overall.

Trent VanDenElzen scored 13 points for the Eagles.

Bonduel defeats Reedsville

Race Anvelink scored 19 points Dec. 12 as Bonduel fought back to earn a 67-64 non-conference win over Reedsville.

The Bears trailed 34-31 at the half but used a 36-30 second half to notch the three-point win. The team is 3-1 overall.

All members of the Bears scored, including Noah Weier with 17 points and Cade Johnson with 11. Also scoring were Colin Margelofsky with eight, Charlie Tauchen and Quinn Wesenberg each with five, and Sam Roberts with two.

Bowler falls to Tri-County

Bowler’s record dropped to 0-5 Dec. 12 with its 63-44 loss to Tri-County in non-conference action.

The Panthers held a slim 25-23 lead at the half but were blown out in the second half, 40-19.

Gresham loses to Port Edwards

Like fellow Central Wisconsin North Conference counterpart Bowler, the Gresham boys fell to 0-5 overall Dec. 12 with its 90-51 defeat at the hands of Port Edwards.

Oconto Falls beat by Marinette

Oconto Falls’ two wins this year have been non-conference games as the Panthers can’t catch a break in North Eastern Conference action.

Leading 32-29 at the half over Marinette on Dec. 12, Oconto Falls lost the second half 33-27 as they lost the game 62-59. Oconto Falls is 0-4 in league play (2-4 overall), while Marinette is 1-3 with its first conference win of the season.

Alex Haines set the pace for the Panthers with his 22 points, eight rebounds, two assists and three steals.

Brady Bursa also had two assists.

Pulaski thwarted by Sheboygan

The Red Raiders lost 83-71 to Sheboygan North on Dec. 12 in a Fox River Classic Conference matchup.

Pulaski is 0-2 in conference action and 3-2 overall. Sheboygan North is 2-0 in league play and 3-2 overall.

Shawano thrashes Green Bay

Shawano earned its first Bay Conference win of the year with a 76-35 thrashing of Green Bay West on Dec. 12.

With a comfortable 37-24 lead at halftime, the Hawks kept up the pace, opening the second half with a 26-2 run. When it was done, the Hawks outscored Green Bay West 39-11 in the half. The team is now 1-2 in the conference and 2-5 overall.

Logan Sipple led the Hawks with 17 points. Ryan Shanty scored another 16, while Will Verkuilen added 11.

Leading with five rebounds was Sipple. Verkuilen and Warner Beyer each had four assists, and Verkuilen had six steals.

Tigerton beats Elcho in OT

Tigerton needed a 7-5 overtime period Dec. 12 to claim a 78-76 victory over Elcho in non-conference action.

The Tigers were the strong team in the first half, leading 39-28. The Hornets came back in the second half with a 43-32 score to send the game into overtime with the score tied at 71-71.

Maverick Maas led Tigerton with 27 points, with Joey Zimdars contributing 13, and Loghan Wanta and Sam Anheuser each adding 10.

Wanta pulled down 16 boards, with Zimdars leading with two assists and Maas with five steals.

Gillett falls to Oneida Nation

In a battle for the early lead in the Marinette & Oconto Conference, Gillett came up short Dec. 11 against Oneida Nation, losing 55-52. Gillett is 2-1 in league play, while Oneida Nation is 3-0.

Ben Matczak sparked the Tigers with 15 points, including four 3-pointers. Jesse DeBauch scored 13, and Aydin Franti added 10.

The game was tied at 28-28 at the break, with Oneida Nation winning the second half 27-24.

Lena loses to Niagara

Lena didn’t have enough in the gas tank Dec. 11 to challenge Niagara in a Marinette & Oconto Conference game, losing 53-31.

Mason Spice’s 11 points were the only double-digit score for the Wildcats.

Marion plucks Wild Rose

The winning ways continued for the Mustangs on Dec. 11 as they defeated Wild Rose 53-44 in non-conference action.

Marion, 7-0 overall, maintained a 27-23 halftime lead and outscored the Wildcats 26-21 in the second half.

Ryan Malueg led Marion with 14 points, followed by Enea Turrini with 13 and Sam Gueths with 12. Malueg had a trio of 3-pointers.

Parker Miller pulled down eight rebounds. Turrini led the team with five assists, and Turrini and Miller had two steals each.

Suring beat by Wausaukee

Suring’s first-half play against Wausaukee couldn’t be maintained in the second half as the visitors fought back to defeat the Eagles 41-38.

Suring was up 24-18 at the break, but the Rangers pulled ahead with a 23-14 second-half performance.

Chargers fall to Rhinelander

Jett Rogowski scored 26 points, but it wasn’t enough for Wittenberg-Birnamwood as the Chargers lost 55-47 to Rhinelander.

“We really battled tonight,” coach Garrett Rogowski said. “I felt that we improved in a lot of areas on both sides of the floor. It was a great non-conference game.”

Jett Rogowski knocked down three 3-pointers and was the only Witt-Birn player to score in double digits.

Oliver Fraaza grabbed seven boards and three assists, and Marshal Fraaza had three steals.