The Weyauwega-Fremont boys’ basketball team recently split a pair of Central Wisconsin 8 Conference games with Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Amherst.
The Indians handed W-B a 53-46 loss Thursday, Jan. 26, but fell to Amherst 59-46 Tuesday, Jan. 24.
W-F 53, W-B 46
Calvin Swanson scored 11 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to help W-F picked up the win.
The Chargers outscored W-F 20-14 in the first quarter, but the Indians led 25-23 at halftime. The Chargers had a 12-9 advantage in the third quarter, but the Indians scored 19 points over the final eight minutes while holding the Chargers to 11.
Tanner Ross and Bryce Behn also finished in double figures for the Indians with 13 and 11 points respectively. Mitchell School led the Chargers with 23 points.
Amherst 59, W-F 46
The Indians honored former coach Mike Flanagan before the game and came out with plenty of energy, as they led 18-6 heading into the second quarter.
However, Amherst held W-F to 10 points over the next two quarters.
“We liked what we did in that first quarter, but I knew in the back of my mind that they’re a very good ball club,” coach Andy Schroeder said.
The Indians still led 21-17 at halftime, but the Falcons took control of the game by outscoring the Indians 21-7 in the third quarter. Amherst led 38-28 after three quarters and outscored the Indians 21-18 over the final eight minutes.
Ross led the Indians with 20 points, while Treg DeSantis added 10 and Swanson finished with nine. Willie Doll and Caleb Glennon led Amherst with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Although they shot 50 percent from the floor, the Indians only had 34 shots and turned the ball over 20 times.
“We always try to limit turnovers to 14 or under, that’s our goal,” Schroeder said. “That’s six times that we didn’t get off a shot. In a game like this, that can be the difference.”
W-F also gave up 14 offensive rebounds to a smaller Amherst team.
“I always tell the guys that height is good, but if you’re not boxing out, it’s not going to make a difference,” Schroeder said.
W-F fell to 3-6 in CWC-8 play and 4-11 overall with the loss, while Amherst improved to 6-2 in league play and 11-4 overall.
“We’re getting better,” Schroeder said. “I know it’s coming. We’re improving, but we still have a little bit more to go.”
The Indians hosted Laconia Tuesday, Jan. 31, and will head to Bonduel Friday, Feb. 3, to take on the CWC-8-leading Bears.