January 4, 2021 at 8:36 a.m.
Freedom filets Hodag hoops 75-41
Freedom filets Hodag hoops 75-41
Freedom shot 60% from the field, jumped out to a big lead and never looked back, racing to a 75-41 win over the Hodags at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.
It was over before it even started for Rhinelander, which fell behind 12-0 over the first six minutes. The Irish pushed the lead to 30 in the first half thanks in part of six 3-pointers. Freedom was 15 of 21 from the field in the first half.
"We have a senior-heavy team and we've lost by 30-plus points twice this year," Hodag coach Derek Lemmens said, referencing a loss to Medford Dec. 18. "That just hurts, especially the way it was done. It's been to good teams but, if we think we're a good team, then we shouldn't be getting blown out by teams."
While Freedom was hot early on, Rhinelander was not. The Hodags were only 6 of 22 from the field over the first 18 minutes, including 2 of 14 from 3-point range.
Rhinelander trailed 44-14 at halftime and the lead hovered around 30 points most of the second half in a game that was turned over to the benches early.
That proved to be one of the lone bright spots for Rhinelander. Junior Jackson Zettler, who got a start with Jackson Labs and Kirk Mathews out of the lineup, had nine points for Rhinelander while Alexx Huff contributed his first six points of the season off the bench.
"We got guys that have been practicing, working hard and haven't been able to get the game experience - guys who in the past would have been sharing a jersey, so they'd be getting a half of JV," Lemmens said. "With our current situation, they don't get those opportunities to play. I thought when they came out, they played hard and did some good things. That was nice to see."
Jace Midbon led a balanced Freedom attack with 13 points. Landon VanCalster had 11 and Austin Balck chipped in nine as 12 different players scored for the Irish. Overall, Freedom shot 27 of 45 from the field, including 9 of 17 from 3-point range.
"A big part of that is our lack of defense. It's rhythm, open gym shots that we're allowing," Lemmens said. "Then we're taking quick, contested shots. That plays a role. That's a thing too, if you let them take their first couple of shots in rhythm, it just makes the basket bigger. We've got to start understanding that we can't let teams, right out the gate (get hot). We have to get stops early and not let teams get confidence right at the start."
Quinn Lamers hit three 3s for Rhinelander as he scored a game-high 11.
The loss dropped Rhinelander to 4-3 on the season - with the three losses coming by 14, 36 and 34 points.
"We have to start doing the little things," Lemmens said. "We didn't have a good practice yesterday. We had five days off and, it wasn't good from the start. They were ready, we weren't. It's frustrating - home court too."
Rhinelander returns to action tonight at home against Lakeland. The Hodags have had plenty of chances to work out the kinks since last Tuesday's loss, but Lemmens said the team has plenty to work on.
"We have time now to work on a lot of things we need to work on," he said. "We need to get back to the basics, the fundamentals. I don't know where to begin. I'll have to look at the film, but there's a lot that we need to work on before we step on the court again."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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