Gillett Secondary School’s boys basketball team could not overcome an early 15-0 deficit Saturday against Oconto Falls.
Junior Tyler Hagemeier spearheaded the Panthers’ attack, scoring nine of his 16 points in the early going, as Oconto Falls posted a 50-37 nonconference win in Gillett.
Hagemeier has scored in double-figures in three of the last four games, including a career-high 26 points in Oconto Falls’ first Bay Conference win at New London.
“His confidence level is just going through the roof right now and when he can hit those outside shots, it just opens up the middle for Mike Fifield and Riley Gruetzmacher, and that is what has been going on with our team the last three or four games,” OFHS coach Kirk Hirst said.
“Tyler just came out and started making shots. Whatever works, it works,” said senior Mike Fifield, who pitched in four of his team-high 18 points in the scorching stretch.
Gillett knocked in its first points after Fifield fouled Tigers 6-foot-3 senior Daniel Torres as he attempted to make a shot in the low post. The Gillett center made one of two free throws, and later added four points as the Tigers cut their deficit to 15-9.
Gillett coach Jeff Cross credited Torres, who led his team with 18 points, for continuing to battle Oconto Falls’ two tall seniors, 6-5 Gruetzmacher and 6-8 Fifield.
“He never stops working. He has got heart, an unbelievable heart,” Cross said. “He never gives up and he plays bigger than he is and is a workhorse.”
Torres notched six points of the Tigers’ seven points in the second quarter, but Oconto Falls continued to pull away with four points each from Hagemeier and Fifield to lead 28-16 at halftime.
Gillett (6-11, 4-7 Marinette & Oconto Conference) made defensive adjustments in the second half, going from zone to man-to-man, but Fifield took advantage in the low post, scoring eight points in the half.
The Tigers chipped away at Oconto Falls’ 39-23 lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the visitors 14-11.
“We didn’t give up the whole game. They played hard coming in,” Cross said.
Torres said he was proud of his team for continuing to battle against Oconto Falls (4-14, 1-12 Bay Conference).
“It was tough. They are a good team, they hit a lot of good shots and unfortunately on our end we couldn’t get any,” Torres said. “But I thought we played them well, being a Division 3 team and two big guys.”
Oconto Falls (50)
Hagemeier 7 0-0 16, Fletcher 1 1-2 3, Manns 1 0-0 2, Koppa 2 0-0 4, Sefcik 0 0-2 0, Gruetzmacher 3 1-2 7, Fifield 8 2-2 18.
Gillett (37)
Peterson 1 1-1 3, Kahler 1 0-1 2, Bubolz 3 0-0 6, Torres 7 4-6 18, Sexton 0 2-2 2, Werner 2 0-0 6.
Oconto Falls 15 13 11 11 — 50
Gillett 9 7 7 14 — 37
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