‘Jays halt three-game skid

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens varsity boys basketball team didn’t need much practice before beating Nekoosa, 66-50, in Monday’s non-conference home game.

Athens hadn’t practiced since Thursday and the team’s home game on Friday against Abbotsford was postponed because of the snow storm. Athens students had off school on Monday during teacher inservice so head coach Jeramie Penney held a brief shoot around for his players in the afternoon before the team’s night game.

“Having three losses in a row I think really helped us beat Nekoosa, honestly, because we needed to get a win,” Penney said.

Sophomore guard Riley Schultz-Becker led Athens with 27 points. He dribbled the basketball through Nekoosa’s fullcourt pressure during the game to allow the Bluejays to set up their half court offense. Schultz-Becker also drained four of his five three-point attempts and he made all four of his free throws. He also led the Bluejays with nine defensive rebounds against the Papermakers. Schultz-Becker paced Athens with four assists while senior Andy Schaer and freshman Daxton Diethelm had three assists each.

Schaer led Athens with 12 total rebounds, consisting of seven on defense and five on offense. He was second on the team in scoring with 18 points. Schaer felt relieved after the game that his team snapped its three-game losing streak.

“It feels pretty good to get the win,” he said. “We needed this win to boost our team morale and to help us get better and push us more in practice. We still have a lot to work on this season but this win helps us a little bit.”

Schaer believes the main keys to his team’s victory against Nekooa are that he and his teammates took better care of the basketball in this game by keeping their composure during the majority of the game. He said the Bluejays need to work on playing better defense and working together better as a team during their remaining games this season.

Penney wants to see his team continue to improve during the second half of its regular season schedule so it’s prepared for the playoffs at the end of February.

“Our full-court press was good and rebounding was better against Nekoosa,” he said. “They have some athletic kids and we kept them off the boards.”

Thirty of Athens’ 36 rebounds were on the defensive end of the basketball court.

Athens improves its overall record to 5-7 this season. Although it was great to beat Nekoosa, Penney said his squad still has plenty of things to improve upon in games this season.

“The team needs to just go into our continuous offense without me having to call out the offensive set to it each time down the floor,” he said.

Wildcats win seventh straight

Edgar’s varsity boys basketball team on Monday upended Northeast Wisconsin Christian Homeschoolers Athletic Association (NEWCHA), 71-54, at home to notch its seventh consecutive victory this season.

Wildcats co-head coach Chris Trawicki is pleased with his team’s recent winning streak.

“We have been focusing on playing solid defense and making good decisions on offense,” he said. “We are starting to get into ‘basketball shape’ after a long football season.”

Senior guard Teegan Streit led Edgar with 23 points. Senior Karter Butt added 14 points while senior Brett Baumgartner had 12. Senior Preston Dahlke and Baumgartner paced the Wildcats with nine rebounds each. Butt led the team with six steals while Streit added five and Dahlke had four. Junior Leyton Schuett paced Edgar with five assists and Streit had four assists.

Edgar improves its record to 10-2 this season. Edgar’s road game against Marathon on Friday was postponed because of the snow storm to Friday, Jan. 26, in Marathon.

Red Raiders lose first game

Marathon’s varsity boys basketball team fell to Mosinee, 61-58, in Monday’s non-conference road game. Marathon and Mosinee now have identical 12-1 overall records this season even though the Indians are in Division 2 and the Red Raiders

See BOYS BASKETBALL ACTION/ page 11

“We needed this win to boost our team morale and to help us get better and push us more in practice.” Andy Schaer Athens senior

MONDAY NIGHT DRIVE TO THE HOOP- Athens freshman Daxton Diethelm maneuvers his way to the basket during Monday’s 66-50 non-conference home win against Nekoosa.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Boys basketball action

Continued from page 8

are in Division 4. Mosinee’s only loss this season was to Divison 1 Kaukana, 101-94, in a Dec. 9 road game.

Despite suffering its first loss, Marathon remains ranked No. 2 in this week’s wissports. net Division 4 coaches poll. Marathon senior Grant Warren played a solid overall game against Mosinee with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Mosinee senior Keagen Jirschele obtained his 1,000th career point while scoring a game-high 26 points against Marathon.

Tigers down the Orioles

Stratford’s varsity boys basketball squad on Monday beat Stanley-Boyd, 72-45, on the road. Senior guard Brady Schmidt led Stratford with 18 points while junior guards Brady Bruesewitz and Reid Miller had 11 points apiece.

Senior forward Henry Zaleski paced Stratford with seven rebounds. Bruesewitz led the Tigers with six assists and junior Caleb Wrensch added five.

Stratford improves its overall record to 10-3 this season.

TIED FOR THE TEAM’S SECOND LEADING SCORER ON MONDAY- Stratford junior guard Reid Miller, pictured here playing in the team’s home win against Owen-Withee this season, joined junior teammate Brady Bruesewitz in scoring 11 points apiece during Monday’s 72-46 road victory against Stanley-Boyd. Senior guard Brady Schmidt led the Tigers with 18 points against the Orioles.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER