Comets edge Rhinelander at home
By Greg Seubert
One day after missing all of its free throws in a loss to New London, the Waupaca boys’ basketball team found success at the line.
The Comets made 17 of 19 free throws – including nine of 10 in overtime – Dec. 28 in a 68-63 home win over Rhinelander.
Waupaca trailed for most of the second half. The Hodags erased a 30-24 halftime deficit with a 19-4 run that included three three-pointers from Quinn Lamers.
That run gave the Hodags a 43-34 lead. Junior Howard’s three-pointer with 7:30 remaining in the game gave Rhinelander its biggest lead at 50-39, but the Comets used a 12-4 run to cut the lead to 54-51 with 3:40 to go.
Justin Vaughn’s three-pointer then cut the Hodags’ lead to 57-56 with 1:30 remaining, but Peyton Johnson’s two free throws with 51 seconds left in the game gave Rhinelander a 59-56 lead.
The Comets drew up a play during a time out and tied the game with 12 seconds on the clock on Shaun Anderson’s three-pointer.
“We did draw something up,” coach Ethan Dayton said. “Unfortunately, they read it pretty well and they were able to stymie that, but give credit to our guys. They were able to make an adjustment. Shaun made a big shot with a guy in his face.”
All nine of Waupaca’s points in overtime came at the free-throw line.
“We shot better from the line tonight and that can win you a ballgame,” Dayton said.
Hunter Marcom led the Comets in points and rebounds with 23 and 10, respectively. Adam Kennedy added 10 of his 13 points in the first half and Anderson and Vaughn also finished in double figures with 10 points each.
Bryce Schickert led Rhinelander with 15 points, while Howard and Lamers added 12 and Ross Skeen finished with 11.
Waupaca improved to 3-6 on the season with the nonconference win and will resume North Eastern Conference play at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, at Marinette.