Better second half a positive for Redmen in non-conference loss to Flambeau

RIB LAKE GIRLS BASKETBALL

While the first half Monday put the Rib Lake girls basketball team in a hole it wasn’t going to dig out of, the second half gave the Lady Redmen reason to leave Flambeau with some optimism following a 53-32 non-conference loss to the Falcons.

The Redmen outscored Flambeau 18-12 in the second half to help ease the sting the Falcons put on them in a tough first half that ended with Flambeau leading 41-14.

Rib Lake continues to learn on the fly how to handle pressure after losing three guards in recent weeks. As one would expect, the process hasn’t been easy.

“Monday was a tale of two halves,” head coach Mike Wudi said. “We struggled a lot in the first half against the pressure defense. We also gave up too many easy transition baskets. We played with much better defensive intensity in the second half, attacked their defense and were able to have some success.”

The improved offense often put the ball in the hands of senior Savana Radtke and she came through with 12 points, all of which were scored in the second half on four field goals and four-of-four shooting from the free throw line. Radtke also had seven rebounds and four steals.

Nellie Hopkins had the rest of Rib Lake’s second-half points and finished with 10 overall. The junior was five of 11 from the field, pulled down five rebounds and had three steals.

Mackenzie Weinzatl and Tia Bube scored four points apiece and Jolee Gehrke added a first-half hoop.

The Redmen made 14 of 43 shots from the field and took only one 3-point shot. They grabbed 31 rebounds, led by Bube’s nine and Weinzatl’s eight. Weinzatl also had two assists.

Flambeau, who improved to 7-3 overall and leads the East Lakeland Conference with a 6-0 mark, was led by Kristen Lawton’s 13 points. Hailey Opachan and Courtney Riel scored eight apiece.

Rib Lake (1-7 Marawood, 1-10 overall) starts its second round of Marawood North competition tonight, Thursday, with a 6:30 p.m. game at Chequamegon. The Screaming Eagles won the first matchup 43-41 back on Nov. 21. Rib Lake hosts Prentice on Tuesday and Auburndale on Jan. 24 in a Marawood crossover.

Royals 57, Redmen 14

Rib Lake’s crossover game at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption was a struggle from the outset as the Royals rolled to a 57-14 win.

Assumption’s pressure and size were simply to much for the Redmen to handle as Rib Lake only got 15 shots from the field. They made seven of them. But 45 turnovers and only 15 rebounds gave them little chance to keep up offensively.

“We did not respond well at all to their aggressive man-to-man pressure,” Wudi said. “We had to play short-handed, missing several key varsity players. Assumption is big and tall and was able to get the inside against our defense for some easy inside points.”

Assumption led 37-6 at halftime and outscored Rib Lake 20-8 after the break.

Weinzatl led the Redmen with four points. Gehrke, Radtke, Bube, Emily Rodman and Tiara Kestler scored two points each. Kestler’s second-half hoop was her first varsity basket.

Radtke had seven rebounds while Bube grabbed three. Weinzatl had two steals. Bube blocked a shot.

The Royals got 15 points from their

5-10 junior Jessie Grundhoffer and eight points apiece from 6-4 Emily Bohn and

5-8 senior Natalie Weisenbeck. The Royals currently sit at 5-3 in the Marawood South and 8-4 overall.