Hodag Highlights: Boys basketball

The Rhinelander Hodags traveled to Raider Hall at the Medford gym on Thursday, Feb. 27, for the last regular season game. The two teams were tied for the lead with 9-2 records. The winner would be crowned Great Northern Conference champions. The game was tight through the beginning of the first half until the Hodags went on a 10-2 run, were up 25-15 with 4:48 remaining in the half, and went into halftime with a 28-17 lead. The Hodags played better defense against Medford than in the home loss earlier in the season when Charlie Gierl had 32 points and double-digit rebounds for the Raiders. Gierl was held to 12 points and one rebound Thursday. The Hodag's defense moved better than they did at home, as the Raiders would get no closer than five points in the second half, and the Hodags won 51-43. The Hodags were led in scoring by Truman Lamers with 18 points, while sophomore Abe Gretzinger scored 15 off the bench. The Hodags next play Friday, March 7, at home against the winner of the Rice Lake/Lakeland game.