RHS Sports recap: Friday, Feb. 13

Boys’ basketball: Rhinelander 62, Merrill 53

The Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team withstood a second half comeback by Merrill and defeated the Bluejays 62-53 Friday in GNC play at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. 

Down 13 at one point in the first half, the Bluejays got within five, down 30-25 at the half, at took a brief lead midway through the second. Evan Shoeder put the Hodags up for good on a 3 with 8:27 remaining and Devon Feck scored the final six of his team-high 20 points from the foul line to ice the game away after Merrill pulled to within five with just over a minute to play. 

Shoeder and Abe Gretzinger each finished with 16 points for Rhinelander, and Gretzinger added 10 rebounds in a double-double performance. Tyson Ott led Merrill with 23 points while Eli Burtman had 12 points and nine rebounds. 

Rhinelander (18-2, 11-1 Great Northern) has won eight straight and will travel to Laona/Wabeno for a non-conference game on Tuesday.

Girls’ wrestling: Rhinelander 4th/10, WIAA Regionals

The Rhinelander High School girls’ wrestling team placed fourth in a 10-team WIAA regional tournament Friday night in Merrill. 

Cassidy Lindner was the only Hodag to advance to the sectional round. Lindner improved to 48-5 on the year with pins in both of her matches to win a regional title. 

The top two finishers in each weight class advanced. Katie Hazelton and Skylar Leitl were stopped short with third-place finishes at 132 and 152 respectively. Nevaeh Anderson and Miranda Daab were fourth at 145 and 235.

For Lindner, sectionals will take place Friday, Feb. 20 at D.C. Everest.

Full reports will be published in Tuesday’s River News.