RIB LAKE BOYS BASKETBALL - Redmen extend win streak to five by beating Colby, Newman

RIB LAKE BOYS BASKETBALL

Whether the Colby Hornets tried to defend Rib Lake man-to-man, with a zone or with some full-court trapping, the Redmen passed their way around it, got good shots and made them while reaching a season-high point total Monday in an 82-70 non-conference win.

Rib Lake’s fifth straight win boosted the Redmen to 14-5 as they look forward to the five-game home stretch where they are in prime position to secure a second straight Marawood North title and build some momentum for the post-season, where they could earn at least a couple of home games if they continue to take care of business.

In Monday’s home win, four Redmen scored at least 15 points, the team shot 48% from the field (24 of 50), was efficient from 3-point range at seven for 13 and made 27 of 33 free throws to prevent Colby (7-10) from making any kind of late rally.

“I thought we really moved the ball well against their pressure,” Rib Lake head coach Todd Henderson said. “Colby always plays good defense. Their guys always hustle and work hard. We really did move the ball well. We had some careless passes and some turnovers, but I thought it was really good overall with how we moved the ball against them. It’s just about guys looking for each other and not to make their own score. They’re looking for if a guy flashes when they overplay, backdoor cuts.”

Jed Henderson, Rib Lake’s main inside presence at 6-5, got a challenge in this one against Colby’s 6-7 senior Tucker Hayes and, while he had some shots blocked or altered, he also was the key figure for Rib Lake in the first half. He had 11 of Rib Lake’s first 15 points. Then, when the Hornets went to a 2-3 zone in the last five minutes, he made things happen from the high post with his passing, getting a couple of assists to Seth Borchardt and adding a bucket of his own as the Redmen went on a 10-0 run to turn a 26-24 deficit into a 34-28 halftime lead.

“The guys did a good job finding Jed underneath when he was open,” Todd Henderson said. “I think Seth does a good a job of getting into the high post too. Jed did a good job passing out of there tonight. That’s what we like to see is just guys looking for each other. You know if guys are going to double-team you in the zone, there has to be somebody open.”

Colby got within 34-32 and 38-35 to start the second half, but Jed and Blake Henderson took over for a stretch, combining for 22 of Rib Lake’s first 24 points of the half as the Redmen opened up a 58-46 lead. Blake Henderson drilled three 3-point shots in that run on his way to 18 points. A 6-2 freshman, Henderson has taken on a bigger role in the offense in the last month, a stretch where the Redmen are 8-2.

“I think his teammates recognize that,” Todd Henderson said. “They trust Blake to take it when he’s feeling it when he’s open. If he’s not he’s not going to force it and shoot them when he doesn’t need to. It’s been fun to see him mature and step into that role and knock those down.”

Talon Scheithauer sank the second of his 3-pointers in the game off a Borchardt kick out for a 66-52 lead. Luke Hannula made a pair of 3s to Colby within 68-58 with four minutes left, but the Redmen salted it away at the free throw line from there until Ethan Cook was able to back cut behind the defense and get a clinching three-point play with 25.6 seconds left.

“We saw on film that they do all sorts of things (defensively),” Todd Henderson said. “They’ll play a man-to-man, they’ll play a 1-3-1, they’ll play a 2-3, we even saw them do a 1-2-2 against Stratford. You have to be ready for that. At this point in the season you’ve seen it all a little bit, so that helps. Guys kinda know their roles and what is usually successful for us against those defenses.”

Jed Henderson finished with 26 points. Borchardt had 16 points and Talon Scheithauer scored 15. Cook added six, all in the second half, and Slade Scheithauer had a first-half free throw.

While Colby had some size, Rib Lake was outstanding on the glass, outrebounding the Hornets 38-14. Rib Lake had 14 turnovers compared to Colby’s nine.

“That’s one thing we keep challenging our guys with,” Todd Henderson said. “Shots falling are going to come and go but we need to always focus on our defense and rebounding and not turning the ball over. If we do those three things well, it always makes it tough to lose.”

Reed Fleischmann led three Hornets in double figures with 24 points. Hannula scored 12 before fouling out and Landon Steinman added 11.

Rib Lake now moves on to its final Marawood Conference crossover game of the season Friday at Stratford. The Tigers are 10-2 in Marawood play, good for second place in the South Division, a game behind Auburndale, and they’re 17-2 overall.

At 10-2 in the North Division, Rib Lake can clinch at least a share of the conference championship with a win Friday. A win and a Phillips loss at Marathon would clinch it outright.

“We’re going to be ready for a physical battle,” coach Henderson said. “We’re going to have to play well and shoot the ball well.”

Rib Lake hosts Tomahawk Tuesday in its last non-conference game of the regular season.

Rib Lake 63, Newman 53

The Redmen inched closer to a second straight Marawood North title Friday, jumping ahead 16-3 and then staying at arm’s length ahead of Newman Catholic the rest of the way in a 63-53 crossover win on the home floor.

The Henderson brothers both had big nights. Jed was a rebound short of another double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Blake hit three 3-pointers in an 11-point first half and finished with 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Borchardt added 14 points as the Redmen stayed three games ahead of Phillips in the North and pulled four games ahead of Prentice, who lost to Auburndale Friday.

The Redmen moved the ball exceptionally well in the first half, which led to good shots and a 59% shooting percentage (13 of 22) from the field. That included six of 12 from 3-point range. The Cardinals started out trying to go man-toman. The Redmen beat that with four early points from Borchardt, five points from Blake Henderson and four from Jed Henderson off assists from Blake Henderson and Talon Scheithauer. Blake Henderson’s second 3 of the game, off a skip pass from Talon Scheithauer made it 16-3.

Newman got within 18-13, but back-toback 3s from Talon Scheithauer and Jed Henderson stopped that run. Blake Henderson and Slade Scheithauer sank 3balls and Borchardt, after getting a pass batted right back to him, hit a 15-foot fadeaway shot with one second left to give Rib Lake a 34-23 halftime lead.

The lead stayed in the nine- to 13-point range throughout the second half, even though Rib Lake wasn’t as efficient offensively as it was in the first half. The closest Newman Catholic, who fell to 2-10 in the South and 4-14 overall, got was 6053 late on a Damien Puent 3-pointers, but free throws from Talon Scheithauer and Borchardt put it away.

Slade Scheithauer gave Rib Lake eight points off the bench, Talon Scheithauer scored five and dished out four assists and Ethan Cook had a hoop and three rebounds. Lucas Cook added a secondhalf free throw.

Quincy Pfender led Newman with 18 points, while Lucas Pfiffner added 16 before fouling out.