July 19, 2021 at 10:58 a.m.
Lawrence, Skeen cap off Hodag careers at WBCA All-Star Game
Lawrence, Skeen cap off Hodag careers at WBCA All-Star Game
Rebecca Lawrence and Ross Skeen were both on the winning sides in the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association's Division 2 All-Star Games, held last Wednesday and Thursday in Wisconsin Dells.
Lawrence's D2 North squad rolled to a 111-71 victory over the South All-Stars on Wednesday while Skeen's D2 Gray team knocked off the D2 White team 118-108.
The games were part of a multi-day experience for both players, touching base with players from around the state.
"It was pretty nice getting to know everyone and I thought our team had some pretty good chemistry. Everyone kind of worked well together. It was nice having that right off the bat," Lawrence said.
"We got to meet a lot of cool guys from all over the place, not just our team," Skeen added. "We branched out and met some of the other division teams. We all ate together and hung out. It was really cool meeting everyone. It was a great experience."
Skeen scored nine points for the D2 Gray squad including a pair of key 3s that gave his team an 86-85 lead late in the third quarter of a 48-minute game. The Gray squad slowly pulled away in the fourth quarter and Skeen made one of two free throws after he was fouled on a put back attempt to but the Gray team ahead 100-93.
"It's a whole different game from the GNC and what we play up north," Skeen said. "It was good to play against them and get more experience. In the second half, it's the last game, All-Star Game, everyone around here's good. I just started shooting more, trying to find my rhythm and I eventually did hit a few shots."
Skeen was one of three Great Northern Conference representatives on the D2 Gray squad, which was led by Medford head coach Ryan Brown. Medford's Peyton Kuhn had four points while Mosinee's Cyle Kowalski had 5. Whitefish Bay's Jayden Jackson led the Gray squad with 26.
"It was good to have then on the team rather than having to play against them, trying to stop them," Skeen said of playing with Kuhn and Kowalski.
Lawrence scored two for the D2 North squad, which raced out a 26-9 lead after one quarter and ever looked back. The North led 55-28 at the break and cruised in the second half as they hit 14 3s in the contest.
"Right off the bat, at the end of the first quarter, we were up like 25," Lawrence said. "We didn't realize it was going to be that big of a blowout. We kind of thought it would be a little bit closer, considering the rest of the games we watched throughout the day. We loved the good start. We just had good energy. I just liked how we started out."
Beaver Dam's Natalie Jens led all scorers with 25 points. Lawrence's points came on a second-half bucket.
"I played pretty good and it was fun playing against the other team for sure," she said.
In addition to getting to play one final time in the high school career, Lawrence and Skeen were part of a fundraising effort for the WBCA. The organization stated charitable organizations Camp Hometown Heroes, Camp Wawbeek/Easter Seals of Wisconsin, Garding Against Cancer, MACC Fund, and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin each received $20,000 from the event's fundraising efforts.
Locally, Lawrence said she raised roughly $2,500 while Skeen said he raised approximately $1,700.
"It was a lot of my family and I work at Briar House, so they pitched in about $300, which was super nice," Lawrence said. "Rhinelander GM, I got $500 from them right off the bat. I really just thank the community for backing us up and the family. It was really nice to see everyone coming together to support a good cause and an individual going to do something that they love."
Added Skeen, "I'd like to thank everyone that donated. My family donated and we reached out to small businesses. We did pretty good. We had a successful fundraising (campaign) and we raised a lot of money for a lot of great causes. It was overall awesome."
Lawrence and Skeen both earned All-Great Northern first team honors this past winter on the hardwood and will both attend UW-Whitewater this coming fall - though it is unclear if basketball is in the future for either of them. Lawrence, who twice qualified for the WIAA state track meet as a high jumper, said she will compete in track and field at Whitewater, while Skeen said he plans to do a walk-on tryout for the Warhawks men's basketball team.
If last week was the last time either takes the court competitively, both said they were glad to finish on a high note.
"It was a good ending to the year and the high school career, knowing that you're one of the best in the state and being able to finish it off that way," Lawrence said.
"Knowing this could be the last time I step on the court is obviously sad, but I'm grateful and very appreciative of the four years and beyond that I've had. Overall, it's just been really awesome," Skeen added.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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