Hodag Highlights: Youthful girls’ basketball squad opens season

The Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team opened the 2025-26 season with a commanding 74-15 victory over the visiting Crandon Cardinals on Nov. 20 in a matchup featuring two young, junior-laden squads without a single senior between them. Rhinelander’s aggressive full-court pressure defense set the tone early, forcing numerous Crandon turnovers that translated into easy transition baskets. The Hodags jumped out to a lead they would never surrender. Junior Aubryn Clark paced Rhinelander with a game-high 25 points while orchestrating the offense alongside her freshman sister, Teagan. The sibling connection produced one of the game’s memorable moments when Aubryn assisted on Teagan’s first career three-pointer. The younger Clark finished with 19 points in an impressive varsity debut. Junior Vivian Lamers was the only other Hodag to reach double figures, contributing 13 points. The home team’s suffocating defense helped them build a dominant 46-9 halftime advantage. Rhinelander eased off their full-court press late in the opening half and played more conservatively after the break with the outcome well in hand. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Hodags traveled to Medford for a holiday tournament where they faced Eau Claire Regis and Wausau West. The Hodags fell short against Eau Claire Regis but defeated Wausau West.