Waupaca also falls in overtime
By Greg Seubert
The first North Eastern Conference boys’ basketball game between Waupaca and Marinette went down to the wire.
The rematch? Not so much.
Four Waupaca players scored in double figures Jan. 21 to lead the Comets to a 73-52 home win over the Marines.
The win came three days after Waupaca fell to Luxemburg-Casco 61-60 in overtime.
Waupaca 73, Marinette 52
The Comets had opened its conference schedule Dec. 3 with a 58-56 win on the Marines’ home court.
The teams combined for 12 three-pointers in the first half. Bryce Boldt’s basket at the buzzer gave the Comets a 34-25 halftime lead.
Marinette cut the Comets’ lead to four points twice in the second half, but didn’t get any closer.
Boldt led all scorers with 22 points. Evan Bogard added 18 points for Waupaca, while Alex Pankratz and Paul Christian added 15 and 10, respectively.
Jacob Sommerfeldt and Keegan Polomis led Marinette with 14 points each.
Luxemburg-Casco 61, Waupaca 60 (OT)
Peyton Mrotek’s free throw with one second left in overtime gave the Spartans the home win.
Waupaca trailed 12-3 early, but recovered to take a 30-28 lead at the end of the first half on Luke Schwenn’s basket.
The teams headed to overtime tied at 56-56. Waupaca had a two-point lead with just over a minute remaining in overtime and Luxemburg-Casco’s Jacob Parins tied the game at 60-60 with a pair of free throws.
Waupaca held onto the ball for a final shot, but a turnover with four seconds remaining gave the ball back to the Spartans.
The Comets fouled Mrotek on his drive to the basket and he hit one of two free throws.
Schwenn led the Comets with 21 points, while Boldt added 14 and Christian scored 11.
Mrotek led all players with 30 points.
The Comets headed to Freedom Jan. 25 and will play at Denmark Friday, Jan. 28.