February 13, 2019 at 11:33 a.m.
On top at last
Lady Hodags defeat Northland Pines 79-35, clinch share of program's first conference title
On top at last
The Lady Hodags officially wrapped up a share of the first girls' basketball conference title in program history Monday, cruising past the Northland Pines Eagles 79-35 at the NPHS Fieldhouse in Eagle River.
The game itself was anti-climatic - Rhinelander led by 26 at the half over the last-place Eagles - but the celebration was no less subdued as the Hodags improved to 10-0 in the Great Northern Conference, two games up on Lakeland in the loss column with two games to play.
"It's pretty sweet," Clark said afterward. "We talked about it yesterday, we don't want it to lose its luster. We had those tough games against Mosinee, Lakeland and Medford and it felt like it was a done deal but I just said, 'Stay in the moment.' I thought they played pretty well. I told the girls we've got to keep earning more respect from outside this area and what a great opportunity to be the team that's setting the example and building our reputation as a program."
There was some irony that the Lady Hodags clinched at Northland Pines, where Clark was the head boys' basketball coach for several seasons before taking the girls' job at Rhinelander. In his sixth season at RHS, Rhinelander now has a conference title.
"Kind of cool how it comes full circle," he said. "We've had a lot of nice teams, a lot of nice players over the years at Rhinelander. Everyone just kept working and you never know. These girls this year, they've always come to play. We haven't had one game where we haven't. They're a very loose bunch, but their tight and they're a joy to coach."
As she has all season, Kenedy Van Zile torched Northland Pines to the tune of 24 points. She had plenty of help on Monday. Rebecca Lawrence added 21 points and Cynthia Beavers recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds in the contest.
"I think Rebecca's getting better and better. Cynthia Beavers, I think, is key. When someone comes, plays and rebounds and is a really powerful force, everything just flows better," Clark said.
Rhinelander gradually added to its lead during the first half, before putting the hammer down during an eight-minute stretch late in the first half and early in the second. Rhinelander went on a 15-6 run over the final 4:40 of the first half to take a 50-24 lead at halftime, and then went on a 9-0 spurt over the first 2:36 of the second half. Fast break points helped the Hodags pull away.
"I thought Pines did a good job in the first half," Clark said. "Usually when we press them, they're out of control, they come off the dribble and almost dribble into traps. Today they were reversing the basketball and exposing our back. We switched to our 2-1-2 to cover the back of our press a little more. Then we had that spurt where Cynthia and Kenedy got a few steals."
Virtually all of Rhinelander's starters were off the floor with nine minutes to play as the Hodags turned it over to the reserves. Nine different players scored in the contest for Rhinelander. Behind Kenedy Van Zile, Lawrence and Beavers, Ella Schiek had five points for the Hodags.
"I'm glad we got a lot of kids in there," Clark said. "Ella Schiek needed the time and the minutes. I thought she had a nice game for us. I thought Annika (Johnson) played well. Megan Brown was a lot more confident. Sophia (McGinnis) been playing steady for me. It's nice to get them good minutes within the action of the game."
Taylor Olivotti had 12 points to lead Northland Pines.
Hodags get 3-seed
The RHS girls' basketball team was hoping for a couple of home games in the WIAA tournament, thanks to its GNC title and recent winning streak, but will likely have to settle for one home game after receiving the No. 3 seed for the upcoming tournament in a seeding meeting Sunday in Hortonville.
The Hodags were edged out by New London for the second seed. Rhinelander will host a regional semifinal game next Friday night against either sixth-seeded Mosinee or 11th-seeded Wausau East.
"We did want the two. Rhinelander's such a great community that really backs basketball and these girls have had such a nice season, so (we) just (wanted them) to experience the home regional," Clark said. "It was so fun when the boys did it year after year. It's just a fun time. Now we might have to go 2 1/2 hours to New London, which cuts your crowd a little bit."
Three in a row
The Hodags were scheduled to take on D.C. Everest Tuesday night, but that game was postponed one night to Wednesday due to snow. That sets up an interesting stretch run for the Hodags, who will now play on three consecutive nights to end the regular season.
Rhinelander hosts Tomahawk tonight and Antigo Friday night as it looks to finish the Great Northern conference schedule undefeated.
"We've got two more to go. Obviously, our goal is to win the conference but to win it outright, 12-0," Clark said following Monday's win.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.