Lady Hodags gear up for playoff run

The Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team has been in the postseason situation they face before and, this year, feel better prepared for it.

The third-seeded Hodags will open the WIAA Division 2 playoffs tonight at home against sixth-seeded Pulaski at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium. 

On paper, the scenario is very similar to what it faced two years ago when the Hodags, as a No. 3 seed, faced a six seed with a sub-.500 record from a larger conference in the Green Bay area. Even the potential regional final opponent is the same as Marinette holds the two-seed, just as it did two years ago. 

Things didn’t go well for the Hodags that time against Green Bay Southwest. Aubryn Clark, playing in her first postseason game, got into early foul trouble and the Hodags weren’t able to keep pace with the Trojans in a 61-35 loss at home. 

While the scenarios may look to the same, coach Ryan Clark said this year’s team is better prepared for a strong playoff test out of the gates than it was two years ago. 

“I think we’re a better team,” he said. I know that our record (14-10) isn’t great this year, but I feel so prepared that we played a tough schedule. So I think the speed that they’ve been used to, because they play a tough schedule, I don’t think that’s going to make a difference for us. I think we’re pretty well prepared to play these guys and pretty excited.

“We don’t have to be perfect, just relax. A couple years ago, I thought we were a little bit nervous. I didn’t think we were confident. I think this team’s a little bit different. I think by doing the gauntlet that we did — we played (Eau Claire) Regis, Stevens Point, Rice Lake. We didn’t win, but we did get experience going against fast kids, athletic kids, big kids.”

Pulaski comes into tonight’s contest 9-16 after beating Antigo 65-30 in the first round on Tuesday. The Red Raiders play in the Fox River Classic conference, where they’ve faced the likes of Green Bay Notre Dame, De Pere and Bay Port. 

Rhinelander is looking to win its 2023. If the Hodags pull it off, they will either travel to second-seeded Marinette or host seventh-seeded Marshfield tomorrow night in the regional finals. 

“Sometimes your first game in playoffs, you kind of get your feet wet, kind of get the nerves out and you kind of work yourself into it,” coach Clark said. “Not the case this year. You gotta be ready to go from the get go.”

The following is a look at the Hodags’ opponent for tonight’s contest and potential opponents for tomorrow night’s regional final.

(6) Pulaski Red Raiders

Record: 9-16 (3-13, 8th Fox River Classic Conference)

Record vs. half sectional: 1-2

Season recap: The Red Raiders went through the ringer in a tough FRCC and, prior to Tuesdays’ win over Antigo, had lost eight of their previous nine games — including a 72-8 loss to Green Bay Notre Dame. 

The record is deceiving, however, as early in the season the Raiders played two of the top teams in the sectional tough, falling to fourth-seeded New London 57-51 Nov. 18 and 60-51 to top-seeded Shawano two nights later. 

Pulaski ended the regular season averaging 41.6 points per game and struggled from the field, shooting just 32.5% overall and just under 25% from 3-point range. 

Players to watch: Senior Olivia Sprangers averages 11.8 points and 5.1 rebounds a contest, while contributing 3.0 steals per game. Freshman Josey Shaw is averaging 7 points and 3.5 rebounds a game while shooting 31% from 3-point range. Sophomore Anya Hauser leads the team with 32 3-pointers this season and is averaging 5.5 points a contest. 

Clark’s breakdown: “They’re a good defensive team. They struggle to score a little bit, but that conference is really tough. Man-to-man defensive team, offensively, they like to get downhill, they can shoot the 3, but they don’t shoot it very often. They like to get to the rim, a lot of free throw attempts.”

(2) Marinette Mariners

Record: 12-12 (6-10, 7th North Eastern Conference)

Record vs. half sectional: 3-1

Season recap: Marinette dropped seven of its final eight games to end the regular season, but six of those contests were decided by eight points or fewer, including a 56-51 loss to NEC champion Denmark on Feb. 13. 

Marinette swept fifth-seeded Waupaca during NEC play, but dropped a game to fourth-seeded New London 65-47 on Feb. 10. The Mariners opened their season with a 68-32 win over Antigo in a game played at Oshkosh Arena, home of the NBA G-League’s Wisconsin Herd. 

The team has some height, evidenced by its 38.5 rebounds per contest and is shooting 65.5 % from the foul line on the year. Marinette comes into the tournament averaging 53.5 points per contest. 

Players to watch: Two players are handling the bulk of the scoring in 5-8 junior Elizabeth Wade and 5-6 sophomore Bianca Furton. Though both are listed as guards, they can do it all. Wade is averaging 19.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 4.6 steals per game while Furton is averaging 11.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.5 steals. Sophomore Sophia Baron (6.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and freshman Lily Anderson (3.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg) give Marinette additional rebounding in the front court. 

Clark’s breakdown: “Probably kind of similar to us a little bit. They do like do like a half court trap. They’ve had some good wins. They’ve had some tough losses against some pretty good teams, they’ve been competitive. Marinette’s going to be just taking care of the basketball. They just, they really do a good job of just trapping.”

(7) Marshfield Tigers

Record: 11-14 (6-4, T-2nd Wisconsin Valley Conference)

Record vs. half sectional: 4-0

Season recap: Usually a contender in the Valley and to make a deep run in the tournament, this has been a down season for coach Heidi Michaelis and the Tigers. While they are undefeated against the half-sectional, all four wins have come against three of the bottom four teams in the draw. 

However, the Tigers will be keen for an upset as they have won six of their last seven games, the lone loss in that span coming against WVC champ Stevens Point. 

Overall, the Tigers are scoring 47.7 points per game and shooting just under 36% from the field. 

Players to watch: Senior guard/forward Hailey Klumb leads the Tigers, averaging 12.7 points and 7.5 rebounds a contest. Freshman Kennedy Kolstad averages 10.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and is a threat from the outside, shooting 36% from 3-point range. Sophomore Natalie DeLany (7.0 ppg) and senior Kylie Laufenberg (7.1 ppg) give the Tigers secondary scoring options.

Clark’s breakdown: “They’re big, strong. They want to grind you a little bit, kind of more of a Valley team, physical. Coach Michaelis does a great job, so they’re always really well prepared.”  

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].