Greenwood retakes ECC lead

With Marshfield Columbus absorbing an overtime loss to Neillsville on Jan. 15, the Greenwood boys basketball team had a golden opportunity to retake first place in the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference standings. Back-to-back convincing wins over Gilman did the trick.

Westen Schmitz erupted for 40 points on Jan. 15 as the Indians scored an 81-29 win over the Pirates at Gilman. The two teams squared off again on Monday night in Greenwood, with the Indians taking an almost identical 83-28 win to improve to 8-1 in the ECC and 9-2 overall.

The conference title may be decided Thursday night when the Indians host Columbus.

Schmitz was out of the Gilman defense’e control in the first game as he scored 28 points in the first half and ended up outscoring the entire Gilman team by game’s end. He put down five 3-pointers in the first half alone. While Schmitz didn’t need much offensive help, Nathan Revier and Cooper Bredlau each contributed 10 points.

Schmitz was at it again Monday, scoring 13 points in the first half as Greenwood posted a 46-17 lead by halftime. Bredlau did him one better with 14 points by the half, as he ended with a game-high 22. Schmitz finished with 19 points. Rogan Travis added 10 points and Sully Whitford scored eight.

Andrew Hecker was Gilman’s only offensive threat in each game, as he scored 25 points at Gilman and 22 in the rematch.

The Greenwood-Columbus game on Thursday night should go a long way toward deciding the eventual ECC champ. Columbus has already played Neillsville twice, while the Indians will travel to Neillsville on Feb. 11.

DONALD WATSON/MEDFORD STAR NEWS PHOTO