RHS Sports recap: Thursday, Feb. 22

Boys’ basketball: Rhinelander 50, Medford 45

Will Gretzinger scored all 17 of his points in the second half and the Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team won its first conference championship in six years, defeating Medford 50-45 Thursday night at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.

Gretzinger was held scoreless until 10:08 to play by scored 17 of the final 21 for the Hodags, including a 3 with 8 minutes to play that broke a 35-all tie and sparked a decisive 12-5 run.

Tanner Hraby scored 26 for Medford, including a 3 that cut Rhinelander’s lead to 48-45 with 20.1 seconds left, but Gretzinger made two free throws on the other end to help salt the game away.

Evan Shoeder added 13 points and Devon Feck had 10 as the Hodags shared the Great Northern Conference title with Mosinee, which defeated Lakeland 81-65 in Minocqua.

Rhinelander (15-9, 10-2 Great Northern) opens the WIAA tournament at home against Hayward on Tuesday.

A full report will be published in Tuesday’s River News.