Hodag Hoops overcomes outside struggles to down Antigo

ANTIGO — The Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team faced another zone, and shots again weren’t falling from the outside, but the Hodags found enough offense in the second half to get back into the win column. 

Abe Gretzinger scored a game-high 20 points while Evan Shoeder added 13 points and 14 rebounds as the Hodags defeated Antigo 62-42 in Great Northern Conference play Friday night at Sheldon Fieldhouse.

The Red Robins (2-1, 1-1 Great Northern) made Rhinelander labor for much of the game, employing the same 1-3-1 zone that Wittenberg-Birnamwood used to put the brakes on the Hodag offense in a 49-33 loss in Wittenberg Dec. 9. Rhinelander (4-1, 2-0 Great Northern) shot just 1 of 15 from 3-point range on the night, but used a key 15-0 midway through the second half to final gain some separation and earn a road win.

That was the silver lining for Hodag coach Derek Lemmens, even if the offensive performance left plenty to be desired. 

“It’s always nice to get a conference road win, but we’re just doing so many things that, you know, we’re just trying to figure out what’s going on,” he said. “I mean, I feel like we’re seeing a lot of things every game that are not what we do. And so trying to give that freedom while also harnessing it and demonstrating some discipline is going to be important for us moving forward.”

Devon Feck added 13 points for Rhinelander, despite going 0 of 7 from beyond the arc. His made free throw with 42.5 seconds left in the first gave the Hodags a 26-25 lead at the break. 

    Rhinelander’s Rowan Wiczek puts up a shot against Antigo’s Josh Zanayed during the second half of a GNC boys’ basketball game in Antigo Friday, Dec. 12. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

After the teams exchanged buckets early in the second half, Rhinelander finally put the clamps on Antigo’s offense, holding the Robins without a point for a 7-minute, 25-second stretch. Rhinelander pushed the lead to 46-30 with 8:18 remaining, and though Antigo followed with the next six points, the advantage never dipped below double digits the rest of the way. 

“Defensively, guys just started playing with a little more energy and intelligently, and then offensively, balancing that out by getting some buckets, and then once you start getting momentum, every the hoop gets bigger and the lungs get bigger too,” Lemmens said.

Ultimately, the Hodags won the battle inside as Gretzinger and Shoeder combined for 33 points and 22 rebounds. 

“We knew we had that size advantage. We had to get the ball in the paint,” Lemmens said. “We played more physical than we have. I still think we have some talented post players that are still missing some shots, getting themselves too deep. It’s definitely a weapon for us if we continue to use it.”

The Hodags shot just 9 of 28 in the first half as they struggled to find traction against Antigo’s zone. The Robins grabbed the lead on five separate occasions in the first half, but never led by more than three points. 

Though Rhinelander pulled away in the second half, the offensive woes still gave Lemmens pause for concern. The Hodags are a combined 5 of 45 from 3-point range over their last two games, and Lemmens said much of the issue boils down to the team struggling to stay within the framework of the offense. 

“It’s similar last year. We’ve got all these shooters, and we can’t make shots,” Lemmens said. “But we got to realize we’re not taking quality shots. We’re not taking rhythm shots, they’re not inside out. I think shot selection plays a big role, but now for last two games, that’s what, 5 for 45? I mean, that’s nuts. That can’t happen. Guys got to figure it out.”

“The few times that we ran our stuff, we got really nice looks. And so, we’ve got to trust what we’re doing here,” Lemmens added.

    Rhinelander’s Jatyn Barkus steals the ball from Antigo’s Egan Trebant-McKenna while teammates Evan Shoeder (23) and Abe Gretzinger (24) look on during the second half of a GNC boys’ basketball game in Antigo Friday, Dec. 12. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Egan Trabant-McKenna scored 12 points off the bench to lead Antigo while Scott Hagerty scored 11 for the Robins before fouling out with 8:18 remaining. Antigo shot 38% (18 of 47) on the night, but also struggled from distance, going just 1 of 11. The Robins also committed 21 turnovers in the game.

Next up for Rhinelander is a non-conference game at home tonight against Wausau West, led by Derek Lemmens’ younger brother and fellow RHS alum, Nate Lemmens. Though Derek holds a 7-4 lead in the series, Nate’s Warriors won last season’s meeting 56-47 and have taken three straight against the Hodags.

“It’s going to be physical,” Derek Lemmens said. “We’re gonna be in our house, and hopefully we find our jump shot. They’re really gonna pack it in. They’re gonna make getting inside touches very difficult, so we’re gonna have to make some shots to stretch them out.”

Tip off is set for 7:15 at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].