December 10, 2018 at 1:31 p.m.
Fortier, Lakeland finally beat Hodags 74-59
Fortier, Lakeland finally beat Hodags 74-59
Jonathan Jurries was deadly from the floor with a game-high 26 points as the T-Birds routed the Hodags 74-59 Friday night at the LUHS Fieldhouse in Minocqua.
Rhinelander had won 14 straight against the T-Birds, dating back to the 2011-12 season. The last 12 came against Fortier, who took over the Lakeland program after Hall of Fame coach Ted Voigt retired. Along the way there have been some close calls - an overtime win for Rhinelander, a buzzer-beater by Owen White to give Rhinelander a win in 2017, and another close call in Minocqua last season - but Fortier finally got one on his old team and his former pupil, Derek Lemmens, who now coaches the Hodags.
Both coached downplayed the significance of the streak afterward.
"Doesn't feel much different, to be honest with you," Fortier said. "I am, however, attempting to answer approximately 13 (congratulatory) texts I've received in the last hour. Life is good. Except I'm not a great texter."
Lemmens said the two didn't say much to each other in the handshake line. "Just, 'good game.' The monkey's off his back," he said. "Don't get too comfortable though. We're going to have them at home next."
If Lakeland shoots the way it did Friday night, the next game could be played at the Miazga Gym or on the surface of the moon and it wouldn't make any difference. The T-Birds shot 57 percent (26 of 46) - including a staggering 12 of 18 from 3-point range - and led by as many as 27 points in the second half before Rhinelander made a late run to make the final score more respectable.
Two spurts keyed the T-Birds on Friday. Tied at 19 with 8:15 remaining in the half, Lakeland went on to score the next 15 points during a field goal drought that lasted nearly 7 1/2 minutes for the Hodags, and eventually took a 38-23 lead into halftime. Rhinelander trimmed that lead down to nine with 12:44 remaining, but Lakeland scored 11 of the next 12 points, part of a 25-7 run that put the T-Birds ahead 68-41 with 5 minutes left.
"Every time we thought we had that opportunity to turn the tide a little bit, bad bounces, big shots, they made the plays and we didn't," Lemmens said. "That was really the difference."
Defense has been a bugaboo for Rhinelander so far this season and was again on Friday. The Hodags, who allowed only 48.2 points per game last year, have given up 60 or more in each of their first four games.
"That's really where our struggles are right now," Lemmens said of the team's performance on defense. "Offensively, we have some struggles but defensively, an area we pride ourselves in, right now we're just not getting the job done."
Jurries was on fire for Lakeland. He was 9 of 14 from the floor, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc, as he finished with a game-high 26 points. Michael Ouimette, despite some early foul trouble, had 11 for Lakeland. Mason Wolfe chipped in 12 points and Collin Quade added eight.
"They moved the ball well. They attacked well. Jurries had a really nice game," Lemmens said. "Their role players really stepped up and that's the problem. Jurries and Ouimette really got them going. Once they get comfortable, now other guys aren't afraid to say, 'Hey, it's my turn.' We've got to take those guys out of the game right away and make their role players get it started. That's just something we'll learn from."
Drake Martin led Rhinelander with 12 points. Quinn Lamers had 11 and Brock Lieder chipped in 10 for a Hodag team that's dropped three straight after defeating Shawano 68-60 in the opener back on Nov. 20.
The loss puts Rhinelander in an early hole as it seeks its sixth GNC title in seven years.
"We still control our own fate. This is not the end all. We've got a lot of season left, a lot of games," Lemmens said. "We've got young guys. We've got inexperienced guys. We've just got to keep chipping away at it and keep working."
Up next for Rhinelander is a home contest against Northland Pines, which gave preseason conference favorite Mosinee everything it could handle on the road Friday night before falling 78-73.
"That's a good Northland Pines team. It's definitely not what it used to be," Lemmens said. "These guys know that and I'm not worried about them being focused coming in. They'll be ready by Friday."
Information from The Lakeland Times' Jacob Friede was used in this report.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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