February 24, 2020 at 1:14 p.m.
Hodag hoops uses big runs to down Tomahawk 84-41
Hodag hoops uses big runs to down Tomahawk 84-41
Drake Martin led four Hodag players in double figures with 15 points and the Hodags pulled away to an 84-41 victory over the Hatchets at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.
Big runs early in each half set the tone for Rhinelander. The Hodags opened the game on a 22-6 run and then went on a 19-0 spurt over a 4 1/2-minute stretch early in the second to put the game out of reach.
Rhinelander (9-12, 6-6 Great Northern) pushed the tempo on a taller Tomahawk team with success much of the night.
"We were able to get the ball in transition. Guys, I thought, ran the rim, and that was really good to see - especially Travis (Towne), Jason (Huseby) got a couple. Our guards got a couple, Drake got a couple. Guards are really seeing it. Guards are pushing the ball forward. It's nice to see, all the things we've really been emphasizing and pushing, guys are starting to do, and starting to see success with it."
The lead stabilized following Rhinelander's hot start, but the Hodags turned it on again early in the second half. Up 43-27 after a Drake Martin free throw, Ross Skeen scored in transition for Rhinelander and then Quinn Lamers got a quick steal and finish of the Tomahawk inbound to push the lead to 20. The Hodags kept rolling from there. Jackson Labs hit a 3 from the top of the key, Towne scored in the post and Labs hit another triple to push the lead to 58-27. Towne tossed in three more free throws before Tomahawk finally broke the run with a pair of Payton Bunce free throws with 9:56 to play.
The Hodags rode a similar wave at the start of the first half. Martin had a couple of inside baskets, Payton Johnson hit a 3 and Peyton Erikson also had a triple and a couple of free throws to get the Hodags out to an 11-3 lead. After a Tomahawk triple, the Hodags answered with three straight 3s - two by Skeen and one from Towne - and a Labs drive to go up 22-6 with 8:39 left in the half. Rhinelander led 35-20 at the break.
Lemmens said he like Rhinelander's ball movement and assertiveness offensively. That was especially true for Martin, whose 15 points on the night were his most since scoring 19 against West De Pere Dec. 28.
"He kind of woke up from his nap. He really, offensively, has not been that aggressive for whatever reason and I thought tonight he was really looking for those opportunities and when he went, he went," Lemmens said. "He was drawing contact. He was getting on the rim - the Drake that we were seeing early in the season. He was attacking bigger guys and he recognized, 'Hey, I can take these guys off the dribble. I can get to the rim on these guys.' He didn't hesitate. He didn't worry about getting blocked at the rim. He just attacked and it worked out for him."
Erikson finished with 13 for Rhinelander, Towne chipped in 12 and Skeen finished with 10. Rhinelander had 10 different players score as they shot 59.1% (26 of 46) from the field. That included all four seniors suited up on Friday - Huseby, Erikson, Johnson and Martin.
"That's special on senior night. You want it to be a special occasion. You want it to be something positive. You want them to have the last game be something memorable and I thought that happens," Lemmens said.
Bunce finished with 15 points for Tomahawk and Drew Bolder added 13 as the Hatchets shot 29.4% (10 of 34) from the field.
The win for Rhinelander got the Hodags to 6-6 in the conference, assuring the Hodags at least a tie for third in the final conference standings. Since joining the GNC in the 2010-11 season, the Hodags have never finished below .500, and never worse than fourth in league play.
Rhinelander has won three of its last four games, momentum that helped the Hodags earn the No. 7-seed for the WIAA playoffs when the brackets were released on Sunday. The Hodags will host Ashland in a Division 2 regional quarterfinal game March 3 at the Miazga Gym. The winner will face second-seeded Merrill March 6.
The Hodags traveled to Marshfield Monday night for a non-conference game that concluded after deadline. Rhinelander finishes the regular season on the road at D.C. Everest on Thursday.
Freelancer Bob Mainhardt contributed to this report. Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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