Hodags Highlights: Boys hoops goes 2-1 in busy week, falls just short in OT thriller

The Rhinelander High School boys basketball team played three games in five days last week, going 2-1 with the lone loss coming in heartbreaking fashion in overtime with a top seed in the WIAA playoffs on the line.
The week began Tuesday with a non-conference road trip to Laona, where the Hodags took on the Northern Lakes Conference leader. Rhinelander left no doubt, rolling to a 75-53 victory behind a balanced offensive effort. Four players reached double figures, led by Devon Feck’s 19 points.
Friday night, the Hodags returned home for the second half of a doubleheader, squaring off against Lakeland. Much like the girls game earlier in the evening, Lakeland hung around through the first half, trailing just 32-24 at the break. But Rhinelander’s pressure defense asserted itself in the second half, forcing turnovers and making life difficult for the Lakeland offense as the Hodags pulled away for a 72-46 win. Abe Gretzinger led the way with 19 points, while Evan Shoeder added 14, Feck contributed 13 and Rowan Wiczek chipped in 12.
The night also featured a memorable moment for senior Caden Sieker, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent in the fall. Sieker was in the starting lineup for senior night and took the opening jump ball before intentionally fouling a Lakeland player to send himself back to the bench safely — a small but touching gesture that acknowledged both his milestone and his recovery.
Saturday brought the biggest game of the week when River Falls came to Rhinelander with the top seed in the upcoming bracket on the line for the winner. The Hodags gave everything they had, with Feck putting on a remarkable individual performance, burying nine three-pointers on his way to a career-high 32 points. Rhinelander, however, went cold at the worst possible moment, going scoreless for more than three minutes down the stretch to allow the game to slip to overtime. The Hodags never led in the extra period and fell 70-69 in a gut-wrenching finish.
When the bracket was released Sunday, Rhinelander learned they will be the No. 2 seed.
The Hodags still have plenty to play for heading into Thursday’s regular season finale at Mosinee. A Rhinelander win would give the two teams a share of the conference championship. A loss, however, would make Mosinee the outright conference champions with an undefeated league record. It sets up a fitting final chapter to the regular season — with the Hodags looking for redemption after a tough weekend and a championship within reach.