Hodag Highlights: Basketball, hockey

Seth Nofftz shoots and makes one of his two quick 3-point shots in the first half to spark the Hodags.

Bob Mainhardt photos

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Antigo Red Robins girls and boys basketball teams were at the Jim Miazga gymnasium Friday night. The girls played first; they held a half time lead of 38-22 and went on to win 66-45. Aubryn Clark led all scorers with 26 points including four 3-point makes. Lily Treder scored 15 with three 3-pointers while Leah Jamison chipped in 14 making four 3-pointers. 

The Hodags next play Friday at Northland Pines.

BOYS BASKETBALL

In the second game of the Friday night double header, the Hodag boys took on the Antigo Red Robins. The boys had a good start to the game and took an early lead and led 26-16 at the half as Seth Nofftz made two 3's and Will Gretzinger made three 3-point shots. Gretzinger added 10 more in the second half to lead all scorers with 19.

In the second half the Hodags continued with defensive pressure forcing turnovers and scored 30 points while limiting the Red Robins to 18 for a final score of 56-34.

HOCKEY

Thursday night the Hodag hockey team began conference play in Tomahawk. The Hatchets are a much improved team from a year ago and it showed against the Hodags as the Hatchets defeated the visitors 11-4.

The Hatchets scored the first two goals before the Hodags were able to score a Joey Belanger breakaway. Thirty-six seconds later Belanger was on his way with another breakaway chance and was interfered with, giving him a penalty shot starting at center ice. He skated to the net with the puck, making good on the chance and tied the score 2-2.

The Hatchets would score another goal in the first for a 2-3 lead and would never trail again in the game as they out-scored Rhinelander 4-1 in the second and 4-1 in the third for the 11-4 win.  Joey Belanger scored a goal in the second period to give him a hat trick while Dalton Fritz put the puck in the net in the third period for the Hodags’ final tally.