The puck sits under the Pines goalie before No. 4 Joey Belanger scores the first of his two goals giving the Hodags a 1-0 lead in the first period. Bob Mainhardt photo

Swimming

The Hodag boys swim team continued where they left off in conference as they defeated the Shawano/Seymour coop 107-43 on Tuesday to up their record to 3-0 as the boys won all 11 events.

On Thursday the Antigo Red Robins dove into competition with the Hodags with the results being the same. The Hodags won all 11 events and won the meet 104-49. Four-event winners for Rhinelander were Samson Shinners and Shawn Denis. Shinners won the 100 and 200 yard freestyle and was part of the 200 and 400 freestyle relays. Denis won the 100 yard breaststroke and was a member of each of the three winning relays. The Hodags are now off until Jan. 4 when they host a double dual with Medford and Shawano/Seymour. Bob Mainhardt photos

Boys Basketball

The Hodag boys basketball played their first away game at Wittenberg-Birnamwood Dec. 11. The Hodags and Chargers were back and forth in the first half as the Chargers led going into halftime 21-22. The Hodags had as much as a 12 point lead in the second half that was whittled down to two later in the half. Thanks to a couple Evan Shoeder layups late and made free throws the Hodags prevailed 55-47. Scoring in double digits for the Hodags were Truman Lamers with 16, James Heck 11 and Will Gretzinger with 10.

Friday night the Hodags traveled to Tomahawk for their second away game and conference game against the Hatchets. Rhinelander jumped out to an early lead and cruised to a 69-29 win. Bob Mainhardt photos

Girls Basketball

Friday night the Hodag girls basketball team played the Tomahawk Hatchets at home. The girls came out cold missing 3-point shots and most other shots they took. With about six minutes left in the first half Aubrynn Clark made the first team 3-point shot to take an 18-10 lead. From that point on the Hodags scored 21 more points in the half while limiting the Hatchets to two, taking a 39-12 half time lead.

The Hodags continued pressuring the ball forcing turnovers and creating points for Rhinelander as Rhinelander won 69-22. The Hodags finished with 11 3-point baskets with Clark making five and scoring a game high 32 points. Lily Treder had 11 points on three 3-point makes and a field goal. Bob Mainhardt photos

Hockey

After not having lost to the Northland Pines Eagles the last two years the story changed last Thursday. After two periods, Pines had a 3-2 advantage. Joey Belanger scored a goal in each of the first two periods but with Pines scoring four in the third and the Hodags held scoreless, Pines went on to win 7-2. The Hodags outshot the Eagles 32-22 with goalie Tyler Kimmerling making 15 saves. The Hodags are now 0-3 in conference and 2-5 overall. Bob Mainhardt photos