February 13, 2023 at 8:55 a.m.
Lakeland routs Lady Hodags 74-27
Lakeland routs Lady Hodags 74-27
The Hodags met the same fate as the rest of the Great Northern Conference, as Lakeland overpowered another conference foe. Saylor Timmerman and Julianna Ouimette both scored 18 points and the T-Birds routed the Hodags 74-27 in Minocqua.
Rhinelander (9-13, 6-5 Great Northern) was down nine with 6:54 remaining in the first half before Lakeland went on a 16-3 run to close the half. The T-Birds then opened the second half on a 25-3 run and never looked back.
"The second half we just got blitzed. Saylor Timmerman hurt us inside. Julianna getting to the basket hurt us," Hodag coach Ryan Clark said. "At times I thought we handled the pressure OK, but size is a big issue and we were just outsized at every position just about. But I didn't think we gave much resistance in the second half. That was disappointing."
The 6-1 Timmerman had a double-double for Lakeland, also collecting 10 rebounds. Eight of those came on the offensive glass. Lakeland, whose entire starting five is 5-9 or taller, gobbled up 25 offensive rebounds and outscored the Hodags in the paint, 54-14.
"Timmerman, give her credit, she scored on those little turnarounds and stuff, but we didn't do a very good job," Clark said. "I thought we could at least give a little more resistance as far as not just letting her post up at the block. If we get a couple of foul calls because we push her off of there, I'd be OK with that. We've got to do a little better job there if we face them again."
The Hodags finished the night 28% (9 of 32) from the field and committed 20 turnovers. Rhinelander made a few shots early to keep within shouting distance. Lily Treder scored a team-high 12 points for Rhinelander, including 10 early in the first half as the Hodags were down 23-14 with 6:54 remaining before the break.
"At the beginning of the game I liked our tempo, I thought we controlled it pretty well," Clark said. "We were still trailing, but I thought doing OK. We were patient against their pressure, patient on offense. We missed a couple of inside finishes that would have helped us, but we hung around. I thought if we could start within 15 at half, I'd be happy."
Unfortunately, that didn't happen. Julianna Ouimette, Lakeland's leading scorer and a Lehigh University recruit, converted on a 3-point play to put the T-Birds up 32-16 with 3:36 left in the half. She scored seven as part of a closing 12-1 run as Lakeland took a 39-17 lead to the break.
Things did not get any better for Rhinelander in the second half. The Hodags didn't make a shot until an Ava Lamers runner with 13:44 left. Lakeland had already opened a 32-point lead at that point and cruised the rest of the way.
Lakeland (16-5, 11-0 Great Northern) clinched the outright GNC title with the win. That feat seemed little more than a formality for a team that has won its conference contests by an average of more than 43 points a game.
"This has always been a good rivalry and a pretty good battle between us and Lakeland," Clark said. "This year, we just got smoked both times. But they're a really good team. They're a sectional favorite to get to state. They've got size, they've got shooting, an all-star point-guard. This is their time for sure."
Kristina Ouimette had 16 points for Lakeland while freshman Ava Evenhouse chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds off the bench.
Lamers was held to 10 points for Rhinelander. Lakeland has held the Hodag senior to her two lowest scoring outputs of the season. She scored seven points when Lakeland defeated the Hodags 77-48 in Rhinelander Jan. 6.
The Hodags were set to learn their postseason fate Sunday as the WIAA released the brackets for the upcoming girls' basketball playoffs. Clark said he figured Rhinelander would be the No. 7 seed based on how his team fared against the rest of the half-sectional during the regular season, but Rhinelander's final placement would be determined by the WIAA's computer formula.
"I think we're the 7-seed, but we'll see what happens," he said. "In the playoffs, I think it's matchups, especially early on. Eventually, I think the weaker teams get weeded out, but as far as advancing a little further in the playoffs, sometimes it comes down to a good matchup. I think if we're the 7, we're playing either Wausau East or Medford. Both were really tough battles for us. We found ways to win, but that would be a tough, good game."
The Hodags host Stevens Point tonight in their final non-conference contest of the regular season. Rhinelander will then close the regular season at home against Antigo on Friday, looking to avenge a 52-49 loss to the Robins in Antigo.
"I think it's a good week to be mentally ready and physically ready to play our best basketball," Clark said.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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