Lady Hodags pull away for road win at Wisconsin Rapids

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — After watching what had been a double-digit lead most of the night shrink to six with just under 8 minutes to play Tuesday night, coach Ryan Clark said he knew his entire Hodag girls’ basketball team — himself included — needed a reset. 

“Me included, we’d been getting a little bit upset because there were some tough calls going against us and our focus became on things we can’t control anyway,” he said.

The Lady Hodags responded with their best basketball of the night, answering with a 15-3 run that helped the team cruise to a 75-56 win on the road at Wisconsin Rapids.

Aubryn Clark scored 18 to lead four Hodags in double digits. Rhinelander (9-3, 4-0 Great Northern) fended off a 21-point effort from Rapids’ Gabby Neilitz and had the answers when Rapids (3-9, 2-1 Wis. Valley) got within striking distance in the second half.

“Rapids has played some really tough competition, so I think their record’s a little deceiving. I told them this would be a great road win in early January before we go to Lakeland and Mosinee,” coach Clark said. “I thought we played really well. I thought we got into foul trouble a little too much and we had some breakdowns defensively, but our energy was good, our team unity was really strong and a lot of kids stepped up. It was a great team win.”

Neilitz had a steal and transition layup that cut the Hodags’ lead to 50-44 with 7:50 to play before coach Clark called a timeout with 7:32 left, which he said he took more for everyone to refocus than to talk Xs and Os.

Rhinelander answered with a Vivian Lamers 3 in the corner on the next trip down the floor and later found Lily Treder for back-to-back transition layups to ho up 57-44 with 5:02 to play. Rapids got back to within 10 on free throws by Neilitz and Jazzlyn Redcloud, but Kelsey Winter followed with a post finish and the Hodags got 3s from Treder and Aubryn Clark to go up 65-47 with 3:17 remaining.

“We refocused and went on a 15-3 run, hit a couple of shots and got Lily out in transition,” coach Clark said. “It was a good learning moment for our team to realize sometimes you’ve jut got to get back on things you can control and just execute the plan.”

    Rhinelander’s Aubryn Clark races ahead of Wisconsin Rapids’ Emma Schillinger in transition during the first half of a non-conference girls’ basketball game in Wisconsin Rapids Tuesday, Jan. 2. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

One game after Aubryn Clark came within a point of tying the school single-game scoring record, scoring 41 in a road win at Ashland Dec. 28, the Hodags were much more balanced offensively on Tuesday. Morgan Van Zile and Treder each had 17 points while Jamison chipped in 12. All four players had moments in the contest where they appeared to have the hot hand.

Jamison made 3 of 4 3-point attempts that helped Rhinelander build a 23-9 lead with 7 minutes to play in the first. Van Zile opened the second half with back-to-back drives to the hoop that put Rhinelander up 40-27. Treder scored 11 in the second half, including seven during the decisive run and Aubryn Clark was steady, despite being face guarded most of the night.

“If teams are going to go so aggressive on Aubryn, I think that slows Aubryn down, but I think our kids can score,” coach Clark said. “I think teams are realizing that we have enough capable players that can score. That makes all of us better. I’m proud that they stepped up and they were shot-ready.”

Rhinelander led nearly wire-to-wire as it shot 42% (26 of 62) from the floor. Rapids committed only 11 turnovers in the game, but struggled in the half court. The Raiders were 29% (18 of 62) from the floor, including 5 of 26 from distance. Redcloud had a double-double for Rapids with 10 points and 12 rebounds while Sydney Holberg added 10 points. 

It all sets up a tough stretch for the Hodags, beginning with a road contest at GNC-leading Lakeland tonight. Led by the conference’s top scorer, Kristina Ouimette (28.2 ppg), and with three starters standing at least 6 feet tall, defeating the T-Birds will be tall task — literally and figuratively.

“Lakeland’s length is obviously a big factor and then Kristina is very, very good. We’re going to have to come up with a game plan,” coach Clark said. “I know they’re going to zone us and press us. We’ve got to take care of the ball against the press, but my concern will be rebounding, finding easy baskets and then how do we contain their inside-outside length. 

“I want to be able to walk off that floor and say, ‘OK, we competed or even if we didn’t compete, what can we do the next time we play them and get a little bit better?’ We’ll find out where we’re at, for sure, playing them on Friday night.”

Tip-off is set for 6 p.m., kicking off a girls and boys doubleheader in Minocqua.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].