QUICK SCORES & HEADLINES
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Softball
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05/18/2013
Hodags - 7
Wis. Rapids - 5
11 a.m. - Game 1
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Softball
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05/18/2013
Wis. Rapids - 2
Hodags - 3
1 p.m. - Game 2
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Golf
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05/17/2013
Hodags - 5th/7
GNC Meet No. 4 - @ Inshalla C.C.
Final
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Baseball
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05/17/2013
Stevens Point - 10
Hodags - 0
Final, 5 inn.
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Track and field
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05/16/2013
RHS Boys - 6th/7
RHS Girls - 7th/7
GNC Meet - Final
Headline:
@ Antigo
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RHS: Girls Basketball
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Lady Hodags Send Seniors Off With Win
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By Student Writer - Connor Kuczmarski | Published: 02/21/2013
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( Photo By Bob Mainhardt ) |
The Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team could not have had a better senior night.
Syndei Smith and Brianna Gilbert scored 16 points each and the Lady Hodags rallied to defeat the Wausau East Lumberjack 53-42 Thursday in the final home game of the season at the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium.
Utilizing a staunch defense and an improving offensive attack, the Hodags (4-17, 3-9 Great Northern) have won three of their last five games and are hitting their stride in time for the WIAA playoffs, which begin Tuesday at Lakeland.
“I was happy for the seniors,” RHS girls’ basketball coach Mark Jacobson said. “The first half we had some turnovers bite us, so we discussed it at halftime about keeping passes crisp and breaking the press. We needed to open up and hit the middle girl, and when we did that we broke it nicely. The third quarter we ramped up our intensity and we had probably our best quarter of the year in the fourth quarter.”
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Gilbert made a deuce early in the fourth to tie it at 39 all and found herself on the foul line shooting two free throws on the Hodags next possession. The first one swished through without an effort. Gilbert couldn’t knock down the second, but Kylie Hunter grabbed the rebound and proceeded to put home the second-attempt shot.
The Hodags took a 42-39 lead and set the tone for the remainder of the contest.
“That was definitely a significant point of the game,” Jacobson said. “We saw they were struggling to match up physically with Brianna, so we wanted to make sure she saw her touches.”
Emily Fortier hit the Hodags next shot to put them up 44-39 with 3:29 left before Smith went to the line for a 1 and 1. She sank both and effectively put the game out of reach, with the Hodags leading 46-39.
The Lumberjacks would be forced to rely on fouling, but the Hodags were lights out from the charity stripe on the evening. Smith went a perfect 9 for 9 in the fourth quarter while Gilbert went 2 for 4. The Hodags defense stifled East’s final attack, outscoring the Lady Jacks 16-3 in the final quarter.
“It was awesome to see us (so consistent from the free throw line),” Jacobson replied. “We have been shooting quite a few free throws all season long and we had a nice flow build up entering the fourth quarter. When everything is flowing even the free throws start to drop.”
Fortier, also a senior, scored the game’s first points, but Wausau East went on to take a 17-9 lead following one quarter.
The Hodags responded — outscoring East 13-8 in the second frame — partially due to their post presence. Gilbert and Hunter scored six and five points respectively for the Hodags. Mara Meyer also pitched in a pair of points to bring the score to 25-22 East at the halfway break.
“I simply told them we need to take care of the ball and we need to rebound,” Jacobson explained. “Brianna Gilbert stepped up in a huge way for us in rebounds. When she is doing that and we are not turning it over, we are as competitive as anyone.”
The Hodags tied the game 29-29 at the 4:36 mark of the third quarter, and proceeded to slowly take control of the game from there. The Hodags took the lead for the first time on the night with 2:22 remaining in the third quarter, when a Gilbert layup found its way home to put the Hodags up 33-32. East made one last push to take a 39-37 lead after three quarters before the Hodags turned on the afterburners.
Gilbert and Smith led all scorers. Fortier added eight points in the victory. Vanessa Boorse paced the Lumberjacks with 14.
“Brianna Gilbert had 16 points and she owned the glass in the fourth quarter,” Jacobson stated. “I liked our defense in the fourth quarter and I couldn’t be happier for the seniors. Sydnei was very steady from the line and when she went back in the game she was taking care of the ball better. It was a good win.”
The Hodags travel to Lakeland on Tuesday for the first round of the WIAA playoffs. The Hodags lost their first contest with Lakeland 48-30, but proceeded to defeat the Thunderbirds 37-32 in their second meeting. Jacobson said he is excited about the momentum and positive energy his team brings to the tournament.
“We have a couple days off before we go back at it Sunday and Monday,” Jacobson said. “We are looking for a good competitive game up in Lakeland on Tuesday.”
Box Score:
Rhinelander vs. Wausau East
Thursday Feb. 22
Wausau East 17 8 14 3 - 42
Rhinelander 9 13 15 16 - 53
Wausau East (42): Meyer 7, Salger 7, Boorse 14, Zipperer 12, Eauting 2
Rhinelander (53): Willging 2, Smith 16, Gilbert 16, Hunter 6, Fortier 8, Meyer 5
Three Pointers
Wausau East: 5 (Boorse 2, Zipperer 3)
Rhinelander: 2 (Meyer 1, Smith 1)
More Story Images: (Click the images below to enlarge.)
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Review: Lady Hodags battled until the end
03/29/2013 The Rhinelander High School girls’ basketball team went through its fair share of growing pains in the 2012-2013 season, but its resilience and never-say-die attitude resulted in improvement throughou
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Smith named girls' hoops MVP
03/18/2013 Junior Sydnei Smith lead the Rhinelander High School girls' basketball team in points, assists and steals and was named the team's 2012-13 most valuable player Sunday during the team's banquet at the
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Medford Ends Lady Hodags' Run
03/01/2013 The Rhinelander Hodag girls' basketball team, buoyed by a last-second regional quarterfinal victory Tuesday in Lakeland, traveled to Medford Friday night to take on the Raiders in regional semifinals
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02/27/2013 
