RHS Sports recap: Tuesday, Nov. 21

Boys’ basketball: Rhinelander 72, Crandon 56

Truman Lamers scored 23 points to lead four Hodags in double digits as Rhinelander defeated Crandon 72-56 in the boys’ basketball regular season opener at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. 

The Hodags took control with a 16-0 run in the first half and led almost the entire way. Rhinelander was up 30-22 at the break and responded with a 12-5 run after Crandon cut the deficit to five in the early stages of the second half. 

Will Gretzinger added 19 points while Seth Nofftz and Devon Feck each scored 10 for the Hodags. Hayden Gretzinger and Omar Bailey each had 20 to lead Crandon. 

Rhinelander (1-0, 0-0 Great Northern) will open conference play at home against Antigo Dec. 1.

Boys’ hockey: Rhinelander 5, Shawano 1

Gavin Denis and Joey Belanger each scored twice and the Rhinelander High School boys’ hockey team pulled away in the third period to defeat Shawano 5-1 Tuesday in the regular season opener at the Rhinelander Ice Arena.

Denis scored twice on the power play, including a goal that put Rhinelander ahead 3-1 4 minutes into the third period. Belanger added one more insurance goal and Levi Forster rounded out the scoring. 

Rhinelander outshot Shawano 33-21. Tyler Kimmerling made 20 saves for Rhinelander in the win. 

The Hodags (1-0-0, 0-0-0-0 Great Northern) travel to take on Amery Friday night.

Boys’ swimming: Rhinelander at D.C. Everest Pentathlon

The Rhinelander High School boys’ swim team opened its season by placing five swimmers in the top 10 overall at the D.C. Everest Pentathlon on Tuesday.

Shawn Denis led the way for Rhinelander, swimming a 50-yard race in each stroke plus a 100-yard individual medley in a combined 2 minutes, 49.28 seconds. His combined time was second-best among juniors and fifth best overall. Mathias Fugle (2:50.26) took sixth, Brock Arrowood (2:51.33) was seventh, Samson Shinners (2:53.76) was ninth and Zacha King (2:54.00) finished 10th overall. 

Denis was the fastest junior in the breaststroke, Fugle was the top junior in the freestyle, Arrowood was the top junior in the butterfly and Dolan O’Malley was the top junior in the backstroke. Charlie Antonuk was the top freshman in four of the five events and was 15th overall in the pentathlon.

Rhinelander (0-0 Great Northern) will travel to Medford for a conference triangular that includes Tomahawk next Thursday.

Due to an early holiday deadline, full reports will be published in the Tuesday, Nov. 28 edition of the River News.