GILMAN BOYS BASKETBALL - Another tough one for Pirates at O-W

GILMAN BOYS BASKETBALL

Three days after a 64-point loss at Columbus Catholic, the Gilman Pirates ran into another buzzsaw Friday in their 78-38 Eastern Cloverbelt Conference loss at Owen-Withee.

Unlike the Dons’ outside shooting display, Owen-Withee built its big lead primarily by turning defense into offense. The Blackhawks’ 1-2-2 half-court trap did some damage. When Gilman did get into its offensive sets, Owen-Withee created several points off turnovers by jumping passing lanes and getting into fast-break chances.

Gilman also simply had no answers to get many open looks in their half-court offense and trailed 49-9 at halftime.

Owen-Withee scored 29 of those firsthalf points following Pirate turnovers and 22 of those points in transition, including three dunks off steals by the Blackhawks’ 6-4 senior Vincent Henke, who finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Quinn Hatlestad led all scorers with 19 points and had six rebounds for the Blackhawks, who improved to 5-3 in the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference at the time and 8-6 overall. Owen-Withee finished with 17 steals and the Pirates finished with 28 turnovers.

Gilman did play Owen-Withee even at 29-29 in the second half. Beau Pockat scored 12 of his 14 in the half, sinking four 3-pointers. Joey Syryczuk added 10 points and had six rebounds and Brayden Olynick found some offensive success as well, scoring 10 points. Adam Draeger scored Gilman’s last four points, making both of his shots in the lane.

Caleb Marion had six rebounds, while Pockat, Logan Halida and Tony Syryczuk had four apiece. Tony Syryczuk had three assists.

Gilman, now 1-7 in the conference and 2-12 overall, hosts Colby tonight, Thursday, in league play, hosts Bruce Monday at 7:15 p.m. in non-conference play and then will head to Greenwood on Tuesday, seeking a regular-season sweep of the winless Indians in a game that also starts at 7:15 p.m.