A yearly meeting between the Lemmens coaches, Derek for Rhinelander and Nate for Wausau West, took place Tuesday evening. The teams played to a 19 point tie at halftime and then the tide turned with a sequence of events about two minutes into the second half.

Ross Skeen attempted a 3-point shot from the corner, missed the shot but Wausau West was called for a foul on the shot. Nate Lemmens contested the call and was assessed a technical foul in the process. Skeen was then at the free throw line by himself for the three shots from the foul and two for the technical, making all five and turning the game from a close contest to a route. The Hodags turned up the intensity of the defense and offensively were more patient and moved the ball well and had a lot of open looks that turned into points, both at the 3-point line and under the basket.

Defensively the Hodags held the Warriors scoreless for over eight minutes beginning the second half. Ross Skeen led the Hodags with 18 points, Quinn Lamers scored 14 and Jackson Labs chipped in with 11 for the 60-38 win.

Next for the Hodags is the second go around in conference as they head to Eagle River for a rematch in which the Eagles defeated the Hodags early in the season as they made 13 3-point baskets and then in their next two games combined scored nine. Lemmens said his team is going to play better basketball Friday.

Photos and game summary by Bob Mainhardt.