Win breaks Waupaca’s four-game skid
By Greg Seubert
The Waupaca boys’ basketball team headed into the Christmas break on a positive note with a home win.
The Waupaca Comets snapped a four-game skid Dec. 20 with a 55-52 North Eastern Conference win over Fox Valley Lutheran.
Waupaca improved to 2-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play with the win.
“They stuck with the process, which is what we’ve been talking about for a couple of weeks now,” coach Zach Molner said. “Mental toughness is a word we put on the whiteboard every game and I think they’re starting to show it. It was a big win for the guys.”
The Comets led by as many as eight points in the first half, but the Foxes used a 20-5 run to take a 24-17 lead. Waupaca closed the first half with a 7-2 run, but trailed 26-24 at the break.
Fox Valley Lutheran opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take a 38-26 lead, but Waupaca responded with an 11-2 run to cut the lead to 40-37,
The Foxes quickly pushed the lead back to eight points, but Waupaca scored the next 13 points. Logan Johnson’s basket gave the Comets a 52-47 lead and the Foxes never got any closer than two points the rest of the way.
Hunter Marcom scored 14 of his game-high 27 points in the second half and also pulled down 15 of the Comets’ 34 rebounds.
“Obviously, everyone’s keying in on No. 30,” Molner said. “Every team has so far and it’s going to continue until other guys prove themselves.”
Alex Klemp also had a double-double for Waupaca with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“He’s been such a great senior leader,” Molner said. “I couldn’t take him out of the game, so I’m sure he’s tired.”
The Comets also finished the game with 12 turnovers after turning the ball over 23 times in their previous game, a 72-51 loss to Denmark.
“It just shows that hard work pays off,” Molner said. “They’ve been working hard taking care of the ball and it’s finally paying dividends.”
Waupaca will host New London at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, and Shawano at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, in nonconference matchups before returning to North Eastern play at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, at Wrightstown.
