Defense gives Tigers the edge
By Greg Seubert
The three-point shot and defense were clicking for the Wrightstown boys’ basketball team.
The Tigers hit nine threes and held Waupaca to under 50 points Dec. 20 in an 82-48 North Eastern Conference win.
Wrightstown scored the game’s first 13 points while holding Waupaca without a basket for the first six minutes.
Waupaca, playing without starters Shaun Anderson and Brandon Wanty, eventually cut the lead to 17-10 on Alex Thuerman’s three-pointer, but the Comets never got any closer the rest of the game.
Wrightstown led 40-22 at halftime and outscored Waupaca 42-26 in the second half.
The Tigers’ defense was the difference in the game, according to coach Ethan Dayton.
“They’re just a buzz saw,” he said. “All five of them can come out and guard you and pressure you and make you make bad decisions. Then they get out and run and that’s what they want to do. It all starts on the defensive end and we knew that coming in.”
Hunter Marcom led the Comets with 23 points.
“That was one bright spot,” Dayton said. “We had to get him the ball and he had to go to work. They didn’t come easy, but that’s the way it’s going to go. They’re going to start keying on him and it’s not going to get any easier.”
Mayson Hazaert led Wrightstown with 24 points, while Jeremy Van Zeeland and Will Braeger added 11 and 10, respectively.
“We didn’t see any quit from anybody and I told the guys I love that,” Dayton said. “We did not quit no matter what they threw at us and kept playing hard. Unfortunately, we couldn’t put it in the hoop enough.”
The Comets have a pair of nonconference games scheduled between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Waupaca will head to New London Thursday, Dec. 27, for a 4:30 p.m. matchup with the Bulldogs before returning home to host Rhinelander at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 28.
“Well put this one in our rear view and learn from it,” Dayton said. “We’ll put some things in in practice and go see how it works in a game against New London.”
