Hodag Hoops finds stride vs. Laona/Wabeno

If the Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team needed a boost of confidence entering a key stretch run to close the regular season, then Tuesday night’s home game against Laona/Wabeno was exactly what the doctor ordered.

Evan Shoeder scored a season-high 18 points, Jatyn Barkus and Truman Lamers scored 14 each and the Hodags dismantled the Rebels 73-39 in a non-conference contest at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. 

Rhinelander (15-5, 8-2 Great Northern) was clinical against the Northern Lakes Conference co-leading Rebels (11-11, 7-1). The Hodags shot nearly 60% from the field, attempted only 10 3-pointers and out-rebounded Laona/Wabeno by a 41-19 margin. 

“I thought the ball moved really well,” Hodag coach Derek Lemmens said. “We had 20-plus assists. Guy shared it, guys passed up good shots for great shots and guys were able to have a lot of success with a high percentage, so that was good. I thought defensively, especially early on, we played with great intensity, got in position off the ball and really disrupted.”

The Hodags took a few minutes to find their footing after trotting out a different starting lineup to honor their six seniors. Rhinelander trailed 8-4 five minutes into the contest but went on a 17-0 run from there and the lead never dipped back into the single digits. 

Barkus made a 3 and then a runner in the lane in the final minute to push Rhinelander’s advantage to 39-20 at halftime and the Hodags started the second half on a 12-2 run. 

Shoeder had 12 points in the first half alone as the Hodags picked apart Laona/Wabeno’s 2-3 zone with regularity. Shoeder and backup forward Abe Gretzinger feasted on screen-and-roll action to get open down low for easy baskets.

“The weave action worked really well and I think bigs cut with purpose, they finished their cuts and guards did a great job finding them,” Lemmens said. 

Barkus had 10 of Rhinelander’s final 12 points of the first half while Lamers added two more dunks as part of his 14-point effort, bringing him to 20 dunks on the year. 

Sophomore Canton Chrisman paced Laona/Wabeno with 18 points, thanks in part to getting to the line nine times in the second half. He was the only Rebel in double figures. Laona/Wabeno was held to 37% on just 13 of 35 shooting.

“This is a good team. They’re young. They’ve got a lot of sophomores and juniors, but they’re a talented team,” Lemmens said. “We knew that coming in the game, they had the ability to make shots and to compete. (We had) a little bit of a slow start, but I think once we found our rhythm, we were able to make them uncomfortable and roll with it.”

    Rhinelander senior Dominic Lehmann puts up a shot during the second half of a non-conference boys’ basketball game against Laona/Wabeno at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium Tuesday, Feb. 18. Lehmann scored six points in the contest for the Hodags, his first points of the season. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

All five seniors who started scored for the Hodags, including Dominic Lehmann, who recorded his first points of the season. Lehmann also benefitted from Rhinelander’s strong inside presence and finished with six points, all in the second half. 

“That’s important, you know, these guys that put in a lot of time, a lot of work, so to be able to have these moments and these opportunities, that’s special,” Lemmens said. “Hopefully that energizes them to finish the year strong and continue a challenge rotation guys every day in practice and fulfill their role.”

It was entirely non-conference play in the GNC Tuesday night, so the conference standings remain unchanged heading into tonight’s key showdown between the Hodags and Mosinee in Rhinelander. Rhinelander and Medford still sit at 8-2 in the GNC, while Mosinee is a half-game back at 7-2. With Medford playing at Tomahawk (0-9) tonight, a Hodag win over Mosinee would almost certainly set up a winner-take-all championship showdown in Medford next Thursday. In between the Hodags will have a non-conference matchup against future GNC rival Merrill this coming Monday at the Miazga Gym.

“It’s a great opportunity for these guys. We’re still in the running for conference and we’re going to be ready for it,” Lemmens said.

Not that Mosinee’s going to be a pushover. Rhinelander won the first meeting 63-54 in Mosinee, fending off the Indians from the foul line after a late rally attempt. Rhinelander will have to try to contain one of the best players in the league in Mosinee sophomore Brayden Reinke, who comes in averaging 21.0 points and 12.0 rebounds a game. He had 26 points and nine rebounds in the first meeting against the Hodags. 

“Their big is having an outstanding year. We’re going to have to do a really good job of making sure we’re in position off ball and taking it to him and winning the position battle,” Lemmens said. “They aren’t as good of a shooting team, so we’re really going to have to make sure we protect the lane and make them take contested shots.”

Tip off is set for 7:15 p.m. at the Miazga Gym.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].