Hodag Hoops edges away from Antigo

ANTIGO — While lacking in aesthetics at times, the Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team found a way to get a hard-fought road victory on Friday night. 

Devon Feck scored 18 points off the bench and Will Gretzinger added 16 as the Hodags defeated Antigo 60-45 in a Great Northern Conference contest at Sheldon Fieldhouse in Antigo.

The Robins (4-11, 1-5) tried to clog things up, limiting the Hodags’ transition game and throwing a number of defenses at Rhinelander. But the Hodags (8-5, 5-1 Great Northern) hit 10 3s and used a 12-3 run to start the second half to finally create some separation.

“It was definitely a muddied, Antigo-style game,” Hodag coach Derek Lemmens said. “I thought their zone was bothering us for a stretch there and it’s amazing what happens when you just make shots. Everything looks good. When we started making shots, that opened things up. Once they went man-to-man we were able feel the cuts and get some opportunities off of dribble penetration.”

Feck, coming off a career-high 21 points in a 70-58 loss to Mosinee Jan. 12, put the Hodags out in front for good with back-to-back 3s that made it 18-13 with 4:52 left in the opening half. He added 12 more points in the second, including a dagger of a 3 deep on the left wing that made it 55-34 with 5:30 to play.

“That’s what he’s capable of doing. We’ve got some guys that can shoot the ball. If they just show up, good things will happen. Devon’s going to be making shots. We trust that,” Lemmens said.

Seth Nofftz scored eight in the first half for Rhinelander, including a 3 in the final minute that gave Rhinelander a 26-19 lead at the break. Gretzinger made a 3 and Will Quinn added a driving layup as the Hodags outscored the Robins 5-0 in the opening minute of the second. 

Antigo got to within 38-28 with 11:55 to go before Feck answered with five straight points and the lead never got under 15 the rest of the way. Rhinelander was up 60-38 with 1:53 remaining before a late run made the final score more respectable from an Antigo standpoint.

“The guys just adjusted a little better. We had better movement against the zone,” Lemmens said of what worked in the second half. “We’ve been working on multiple zones, but we haven’t seen a lot. It was one of our first glimpses at it. I thought guys responded well at halftime and executed the game plan.”

    Rhinelander’s Will Gretzinger drives in for a layup against Antigo’s Colton Thomae during the second half of a GNC boys’ basketball game in Antigo Friday, Jan. 19. Gretzinger scored 16 points in the Hodags’ 60-45 victory. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Both Feck and Gretzinger finished 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Nofftz had gone three straight games without a triple prior to Friday, going 0 for 14 during that span. He hit two in the first half and finished with nine points.

“We need him as that extra option. He’s got to shoot with confidence and he’s got to be an active scorer on this team. We don’t want them to start zeroing in on some of our other players,” Lemmens said. “Seth is going to be making shots, Will Gretzinger’s going to be making shots. We’re feeling good about our shot-making and then you have Evan (Shoeder) and Truman (Lamers) that are capable of making shots, too. We’ve got guys that can do it. We’ve just got to keep working at it and do it consistently.”

Antigo finished the night 47.5% (19 of 40) from the field. Gus Schuessler tied for the game high with 18 points while Javon Bussey chipped in 11. 

Rhinelander moved into sole possession of second place in the GNC thanks to the win, coupled with a 54-51 Lakeland loss to Medford in Minocqua on Friday night. 

The Hodags are home this evening to face Wisconsin Rapids. Rhinelander is looking for its first win of the season against a Wisconsin Valley Conference opponent. 

“They’re a lot like us. It should be two teams that just want to pressure and shoot 3s,” Lemmens said. “Hopefully on our home court on a Tuesday night, we can catch them and take advantage of the opportunity.”

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].