Waupaca falls at New London
By Greg Seubert
Any plans the Waupaca boys’ basketball team had of pulling off a first-round upset in the WIAA state tournament didn’t last very long.
New London handed the Comets a 72-49 loss Feb. 27 in a Division 2 regional game in New London.
Waupaca also dropped recent North Eastern Conference games to Luxemburg-Casco and Wrightstown.
New London 72, Waupaca 49
The Comets took an early lead on Justin Vaughn’s basket, but the Bulldogs answered with 16-0 and 8-0 runs to take a 24-3 lead in the first half.
Vaughn ended the half with 12 points after hitting five of his first 10 shots, but the rest of the Comets were a combined 1-for-26.
Waupaca trailed 39-15 at the break, never got any closer than 18 points in the second half and trailed by as many as 27 points.
Vaughn led the Comets with 16 points, but New London held Waupaca’s leading scorer, Brandon Wanty, to 12 points, all in the second half. Adam Kennedy also finished in double figures with 11 points.
Brady Rodgers led four New London players in double figures with 19 points, while Will Wohlt added 11 and Brayden Kurth and Brennan Stroesenreuther chipped in with 10 each.
Lux.-Casco 87, Waupaca 66
Hunter Marcom scored a season-high 24 points for the Comets Feb. 24, but Waupaca never recovered from a 45-23 halftime deficit.
Kennedy and Wanty also finished in double figures for the Comets with 14 and 10 points, respectively, while Josh Zeitler led the Spartans with 17.
Wrightstown 71, Waupaca 52
The Tigers made 11 three-pointers Feb. 21.
Wanty and Vaughn led Waupaca with 17 and 12 points, respectively, while Luke Haese led Wrightstown with 25.