Hodag Hoops rolls in Raider Hall rout

MEDFORD — There’s a sign hanging on the wall at Raider Hall that reads “Defense lives here,” a nod to what has been the calling card of strong Medford boys’ basketball teams over past several seasons. 

On Thursday night the Raider defense wasn’t home, and the Rhinelander High School boys’ basketball team partied in its absence. 

Devon Feck scored a game-high 23 points, leading four Hodags in double figures, and Rhinelander was an efficient 53% from the field in a 76-57 rout of the Raiders in Medford.

The blitz was quick and effective as Rhinelander led wire-to-wire. The Hodags had 21 points less than seven minutes into the game and had 40 with more than four minutes remaining in the first half. Once Rhinelander jumped out to a 19-9 lead with 12:10 to go in the first, the lead never dipped back below double figures. 

It was a strong statement in a potential landmine game for the Hodags (11-2, 6-1 Great Northern) as they continue to chase conference-leading Mosinee. It was also a much-needed performance after Rhinelander nearly squandered a late 12-point lead two nights earlier in a one-point win at Shawano.

“I thought this was, coming out, our most consistent energy in a game,” Hodag coach Derek Lemmens said. “It was a nice bounce back after kind of just inconsistent lackluster performances the last couple games. I thought the intensity was there the whole time. So that was nice to see.”

Forwards Abe Gretzinger and Evan Shoeder had 16 and 14 points, respectively, as the Hodags dominated an undersized Medford squad in the paint. Rhinelander out rebounded Medford 34-28. That included 14 offensive rebounds that lead to 15 second-chance points. 

Rhinelander’s three forwards — Shoeder, Gretzinger and sophomore Vince White — combined for 19 rebounds in the contest.

“That was our goal, and we should because we have a lot of size. That’s something that we need to establish right out of the gates, and I felt like our bigs did that,” Lemmens said. “All three of them were very active on the glass. They really were physical inside, and I thought they were really strong in their moves. It really allowed us to play inside-out, and our shooters got some really nice looks because of that.”

    Rhinelander’s Rowan Wiczek attempts a 3 against coverage by Medford’s Corbin Radlinger during the first half of a GNC boys’ basketball game in Medford Thursday, Jan. 22. Wiczek scored a career-high 16 points for Rhinelander in a 76-57 win. (Jeremy Mayo/River News)
  

Rowan Wiczek added a career-high 16 points, aided by makes on all three of his first-half 3-point attempts. Wiczek, who was 0 for 13 from deep to start the season, has gone 5 of 8 over the past three games — which Lemmens credited to one minor adjustment.

“His shot is not broke. He could hit a dime on the rim every single time. It’s just where that dime was, that was the issue,” he said. “He just put a little extra, just a little more leg, and since he’s done that, I mean, he’s found his touch. That’s a huge piece to have because you have to guard all five guys out on the 3-point line now.”

Medford (5-9, 4-4 Great Northern) twice put a minor scare into the Hodags, but Rhinelander responded both times. 

The Hodags led 40-18 with 4:12 left in the half, but the Raiders closed the half on a 10-0 run to cut the lead to 12 at the break. Rhinelander answered with three buckets over the first 1:06 of the second half to regain control, and had the lead to 65-42 with 8:25 left before Medford went on a 10-2 run to cut the lead to 15 with 5:37 to go. Rhinelander scored nine straight after that before the teams turned things over to the reserves for the final couple of minutes. 

“It’s always scary getting a big lead like that because now you have to keep that energy, the whole game, and when a score gets suddenly to 12, it can feel like it’s back to two, even though you’re still up a significant margin,” Lemmens said. “I thought, guys, just kind of, in the locker room, they understood we lost a little focus. They made their run, and they came out and right away reestablished themselves inside.”

Nick Krause led Medford with 16 points, Corbin Radlinger had 14 and Dylan Frey chipped in 10. Though the Raiders shot just under 40% (19 of 48) from the field, an 11 of 29 night from deep kept the contest from turning into a bigger rout.

That was a bit of a concern for the Hodag defense after allowing 10 triples two nights earlier against Shawano. Those were the two best 3-point nights Rhinelander has allowed this season.

“We got sucked in. We just didn’t stay disciplined off the ball,” Lemmens said. “And also the middle drives. You know, when you allow that penetration, the way that our defense plays, that’s the problem. We have to keep it on a sideline. Things that will work on, things that will definitely focus on. So it was nice to get exposed and yet still get the W.”

Thursday night’s game at Medford was originally scheduled for Friday, but pushed ahead one day — and the start time pushed about an hour — so the Hodags could get home before the brunt of an Arctic blast overtook the Northwoods late Thursday night.

Rhinelander kicked off a four-game home stand against Tomahawk Monday night at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium that concluded after press time for today’s edition. The Hodags host Wausau East tonight, will play Antigo this coming Friday and Wisconsin Rapids the following Tuesday all at home.

Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].