March 4, 2019 at 2:23 p.m.
Hodags' 17 3s not enough against Lumberjacks in regional semis
Hodags' 17 3s not enough against Lumberjacks in regional semis
Wausau East inched away down the stretch to defeat the Hodags 71-65 in the WIAA regional semifinals in Wausau, ending the Hodags' season with their first sub-.500 record since the 2010-11 season.
It was not for a lack of trying on the offensive end of the floor. Three nights following a career-high 30-point effort, Howard bettered it with a game-high 32. In all, Rhinelander hit a season-best 17 3-pointers and was 50 percent from beyond the arc.
But, as has been Rhinelander's Achilles heel all season, defense came back to haunt the Hodags. Rhinelander allowed 41 second-half points to the Lumberjacks. Big man Gabe Krueger had a double-double with 25 points and 16 rebounds, and East shot 56 percent from the field (20 of 36).
"We got ourselves out of position," RHS boys' basketball coach Derek Lemmens said. "We didn't communicate quite as well and they really were able to exploit. They made their free throws. They made plays down the stretch. Guys played but we have youth and youth makes mistakes. It happens. It's part of the game."
The Hodags canned eight 3s in the first half and led 32-30 at the break. The lead changed hands seven times in the second half before East pulled ahead for good on a Krueger basket with 8:14 remaining, part of a 12-2 run that saw the Lumberjacks take control.
Rhinelander got back within five on a Howard 3 with 4:03 remaining, but East scored its final 12 points from the foul line as it kept the Hodags at arm's length.
Howard had eight triples for Rhinelander and Ross Skeen drained four 3s in a 12-point effort. In all six players hit 3s for the Hodags, but Rhinelander's offense did not have much else going for it. Rhinelander was only 5 of 16 inside the arc for the game, and got to the free throw line only eight times.
"We said at half, we're making shots and we're up two," Lemmens said. "That was a little uncomfortable. We were missing shots inside. We still weren't getting inside touches even in the second half and we were rally hoping to get those things, not only to get closer to the basket, get higher percentage shots, but also put a little more pressure on East's D and make their bigs have to work a little harder inside."
After being held to five points in the first half, Krueger came to life for East. He recorded a double-double in the second half alone with 20 points and 10 boards over the final 18 minutes. He had plenty of help as well. Jake Kane (12 points), Forrest Kronberger (11) and Trey Buchberger (10) made it four Lumberjacks in double digits. East nearly had a fifth as Ryan LaCerte finished with nine points.
Howard tried to put the Hodags on his back, scoring the team's final 18 points. Though it wasn't enough, it capped off a sensational postseason that saw Howard score 62 points in two games.
"This is what Junior Howard is and I'm so glad that people got to see it," Lemmens said. "This season, I don't know what factors caused it, but he really wasn't believing and wasn't as aggressive he could be. But, these last two games especially, he just said, 'This is my time,' and he showed what he could be. I hope he takes that with him. I think he wants to play at the next level and he can if this is the mindset that he has."
Lemmens thanked the four seniors who finished the season on the roster for their contributions to the program.
"Guys like Bryce (Schickert) and Junior and Neil (Mathews) and (Patrick) Stone, they put a great effort in," he said. "They just fell short of their goals. But they, again, are positive off the court for us. They represent our community in a positive way and, when it comes down to it, that's what you're looking for. They're great kids and they gave the Hodag program everything they had."
Rhinelander finished the season 10-13 and Lemmens has already started looking ahead to next year where the Hodags will face a challenge with a young, undersized roster.
"We need to continue to get tougher," he said. "We can't back down to bigger opponents. We're going to have to be able to keep guys in front of us and that comes from toughness."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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