Iola-Scandinavia’s boys’ basketball team improved to 5-0 on the season with recent Central Wisconsin 8 Conference wins over Shiocton and Stevens Point Pacelli.
The Thunderbirds knocked off Shiocton 63-49 Dec. 19 and handed Pacelli a 68-54 defeat Dec. 16.
I-S 63, Shiocton 49
SHIOCTON – A 26-10 advantage in the fourth quarter helped the T-Birds erase a two-point deficit.
I-S took an 18-10 lead into the second quarter and led 30-24 at halftime, but Shiocton outscored the visitors 15-7 in the third quarter to take a 39-37 lead.
Braiden Garbe led the T-Birds with 17 points, while Evan Fuhs and Kristian Welch added 15 each.
Nathan Schmidt led Shiocton with 22 points.
I-S 68, Pacelli 54
IOLA – The T-Birds led 16-9 after one quarter, but the Cardinals cut the lead to 26-22 at halftime.
I-S added to its lead with a 19-15 advantage in the third quarter and closed the game by outscoring Pacelli 23-17 over the final eight minutes.
Welch had 20 points to lead the T-Birds. Caleb Loken and Garbe also finished in double figures with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Pacelli’s James Gollon came into the game as the state’s leading scorer and led all players with 28.
The T-Birds headed to Port Edwards Dec. 23 for a nonconference game with the Blackhawks and will wrap up 2014 Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Tigerton. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.