Lady Hodags race past Antigo 74-18

The Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team has consistently found a way to win against Antigo, even if it has taken awhile for the Hodag offense to find its rhythm against the Robins’ grinding, half-court style. 

Suffice to say Friday night was much closer to the tempo Hodag coach Ryan Clark was looking for, and the results showed in the final score. 

Rhinelander blitzed Antigo from the start and led wire-to-wire in a 74-18 victory over the Red Robins in Great Northern Conference play at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.

The Hodags started the game on a 9-0 run and never looked back. They pushed the lead to 32-7 with 7:30 left in the first half, to 43-12 at halftime and allowed the Robins to score only six points in the second half. 

Rhinelander’s press forced 20 first-half turnovers and the Hodag offense was efficient, finishing the night 48% (27 of 56) from the field.

It all was predicated on getting out to a fast start and never allowing the Robins to gain any momentum.

“That was our focus. That was the first game in a few years where we actually came out well in the first half against the Antigo,” coach Clark said. “It was one of our keys for the game, and I thought we got out and ran well, we executed our stuff. We kind of asserted ourselves quickly.”

    Rhinelander’s Aubryn Clark drives in off the wing during the second half of a GNC girls’ basketball game against Antigo at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium Friday, Jan. 30. Clark scored a game-high 25 points in the Hodags’ 74-18 win. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

Aubryn Clark had one of her most efficient nights of the season, scoring 25 points on 8 of 12 shooting. Teagan Clark added 11 points, and junior forward Lexi Beran had another big night against the Red Robins. 

Following a 11-point, 10-rebound effort the first time around at Antigo Dec. 12, Beran had the game’s first six points on Friday as part of a 12-point and 12-rebound effort. 

“She did really well. I think she scored our first six points or something. What I really like tonight is that we’ve been working on some different things in practice, going up a little bit quicker with their shot, little drop steps,” coach Clark said of Beran’s performance. “Her and Aubryn had a little pick-and-roll that we worked on in practice the last couple times. It’s just really nice to see that stuff show up on the court.”

    Rhinelander’s Ellie Cummings drives into the lane during the second half of a GNC girls’ basketball game against Antigo at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium Friday, Jan. 30. (Bob Mainhardt for the River News)
  

The Hodags spread the wealth around and nearly had a fourth player score in double figures. Ellie Cummings finished with nine points after her last 3 was changed to a 2 as part of a personal 7-0 run midway through the second half. 

Vivian Lamers added seven points for Rhinelander, and nine different players scored for the Hodags in the contest. 

“Offensively, we’re moving the ball. More kids are comfortable with the basketball. If they went back and watched themselves early in the year till now, I think they’d notice a big difference,” coach Clark said. “I love that nine kids scored. And the other kids that didn’t had opportunities at the free throw line. So that’s kind of the coolest thing for us as a staff.”

Rhinelander did all while attempting just 16 3-pointers on the evening — a season low. 

Penny Lane Remington had nine points and nine rebounds for Antigo, which was held to just 19% (8 of 42) from the field. That’s the lowest percentage the Hodag defense has allowed since holding Crandon to 14% (5 of 35) in the season opener. 

“They had really good energy. They were excited to play. I thought we looked very mentally fresh,” coach Clark said. “The kids had a little pop in their step in the pregame. And they were just excited to play it tonight on a Friday night doubleheader.”

The Hodags also likely got a bit of a jolt during the day Friday as the WIAA released its girls’ basketball midseason report, giving teams a first-time look at how the postseason rankings sat through games played as of Jan. 29.

According to the report, the Hodags were projected as the No. 3 seed in their half of a Division 2 sectional — behind only Shawano and Marinette. 

Even though the Hodags play their next four games on the road, beginning tonight at Wisconsin Rapids, coach Clark said all of the games are winnable and could allow the team to bolster its tournament résumé even further.

“We’re a three with the losing record,” coach Clark said. “We have some winnable games upcoming. And the teams in front of us and around us have some tough, tough games upcoming. I don’t think we could jump Shawano. They have the head-to-head. But if we can give that 2 seed and host the regional, we gotta win the next four games. We gotta win Tuesday night. That’s gonna be the big one, at Rapids, but, you know, everything that we talked about still in front of us, we just got to keep getting better.” 

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].