Thunderbirds lose first two games

Pittsville’s Dylan Luther puts pressure on Hunter Stilen as he brings the ball up the floor for Iola-Scandinavia. Holly Neumann Photo

I-S boys to host Menominee Indian

By Holly Neumann

Scoring points has been a problem so far this season for the Iola-Scandinavia boys’ basketball team.

The Thunderbirds dropped their first two games of the season to Almond-Bancroft and Pittsville.

Almond-Bancroft handed the T-Birds a 52-36 loss Dec. 1 and Pittsville returned home Nov. 29 with a 30-16 win.

Almond-Bancroft 52, Iola-Scandinavia 36

Almond-Bancroft held the T-Birds to eight points in the first half.

The Eagles led 27-8 at halftime before Iola-Scandinavia outscored them 28-25 in the second half.

Jackson Fredy and Gavin Hoyord led the T-Birds with 11 points each, while Almond-Bancroft’s Ayden Phillips led all scorers with 20.

Iola-Scandinavia’s Parker Gullixon gets his hard in the air to stop Pittsville’s Marcus Getsinger from passing the ball. Holly Neumann Photo

Pittsville 30, Iola-Scandinavia 16

The T-Birds trailed the Panthers 13-12 at halftime and Pittsville added to its lead with a 17-4 advantage in the second half.

Carter Melum led the T-Birds with six points, while Samuel Bowden led Pittsville with 15.

The T-Birds opened Central Wisconsin Conference-East play Dec. 6 on the road against Wittenberg-Birnamwood and will host Menominee Indian at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9.