Hodag Hoops blasts Crandon in opener

CRANDON — The depth and scoring versatility the Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team wants to employ this season was on full display last Tuesday in the Hodags’ season opener. 

Devon Feck scored 14 points, leading four Hodags in double figures, in a 74-22 non-conference rout of the Crandon Cardinals.

The Hodags had six players score six or more points and 10 players score overall. It was a clinical display for the defending co-champions of the Great Northern Conference, who never trailed in the contest and built a 46-11 lead by halftime. 

“We got a lot of guys that can do things,” Hodag coach Derek Lemmens said. “I liked how they played together. They shared. They were looking for that extra pass. It was good, especially in the first half it was good the way guys pushed it and shared.”

Rhinelander’s athleticism flummoxed Crandon, early and often. The Cardinals committed 11 turnovers in the opening half while the Hodags attacked the basket with alarming frequency. The Hodags shot over 53% (18 of 34) from the field in the first half while attempting only six 3-pointers. Rhinelander went on a 28-4 run to close out the first half and then started the second half with a 21-0 spurt. 

“That first half was really good basketball. I thought guys played hard, guys played together. They controlled tempo, pushed the ball in transition and just got a lot of really good, clean looks. We were very pleased with that first half,” Lemmens said. 

“We’re not taking the 3s for 3s sake,” Lemmens added. “We were able to get to the rim. We were able to attack and get buckets in transition. We understand that’s the best first shot and then 3s are that alternative when that’s not there. I love our 3-point shooters but this was a game where they really recognized we can get the ball inside.”

Rhinelander’s forwards got into the action early and often. Evan Shoeder — a 6-4 junior and the lone returning big from last year’s rotation — finished the night with 13 points and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the field. Abe Gretzinger, a 6-3 sophomore, added 12 points off the bench and Hayden Schommer, a 6-4 senior who transferred to the district from Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs, added six points. 

“They’re physical players,” Lemmens said. “They put pressure on the rim and are not afraid to just mix it up in the lane. As we continue to work on some of their rawness and, as coach (Brandon) Karaba and coach (Kurt) Zalewski get a little more time working on their post game, it really could be an asset for us down the road.”

    Rhinelander’s Truman Lamers dunks the basketball ahead of Crandon’s Deegan Kircher during the first half of a non-conference boys’ basketball game at Crandon Tuesday, Nov. 26. Lamers, Rhinelander’s top returning scorer from last season, scored 12 points in the Hodags’ victory. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Truman Lamers, the top returning scorer from last year’s Hodag squad, finished the night with 12 points. That included a dunk with 5:33 left in the first half that put Rhinelander ahead 30-7. Senior Seth Nofftz, the other returning starter from last year’s team, scored six of the Hodags’ first eight points and finished the night with eight points and seven rebounds.

Meanwhile, Crandon never found its bearings offensively. The Cardinals finished the night a paltry 16.3% from the field (7 of 43). Crandon went 9 1/2 minutes without a field goal during Rhinelander’s late first-half run and didn’t hit from the field in the second half until a Logan Jaeger 3 with 8:20 remaining. 

Senior Jaxon Keepers, a returning first-team All-Northern Lakes Conference guard, was held to six points on 1 of 12 shooting for Crandon. Keepers, Hayden Gretzinger and Jaeger all finished with six points for the Cardinals.

Lemmens credited a smothering defense, led by first-time starter Jatyn Barkus, for keeping Keepers in check.

“He’s a very capable and talented guard and I thought guys did a great job frustrating him,” Lemmens said. “Jay, he was there and, when he needed help, guys were in position and didn’t give him anything (in) rhythm or anything easy. I was really pleased, especially considering we didn’t come in and emphasize it. We knew that he needed to be dealt with but guys just did a great job defending as a team and everywhere he turned, there was green.”

Rhinelander finished the night 47.5% from the field (29 of 61) and was 8 of 19 from deep.

It was not a perfect opener for the Hodags, who committed 12 turnovers and had a tendency to get a bit too frenetic at times on the offensive end of the floor — something Lemmens said also plagued his team a night earlier when it scrimmaged at Wausau West. 

The good news, Lemmens said, is the Hodags have plenty of time to work before returning to the court and opening Great Northern Conference play at home against Antigo this Friday night. 

“We’ll find plenty. We still have film from (the scrimmage) last night and we have practice tomorrow. We have a good group of alums so we’re going to try to move forward and improve,” he said. “Tonight was a just a really good start to the season.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].