Blackhawks, ECC-leading Greenwood beat Pirates
The Gilman Pirates fell behind by double digits six minutes into Tuesday’s game at Owen-Withee and weren’t able to stick with the Blackhawks much longer in a 72-24 Eastern Cloverbelt Conference loss.
Six different players scored at least seven points for Owen-Withee, led by Tyler Weaver’s 15 points. Carter Klabon added 12 and Aaron Ovyn had 11 as the Blackhawks improved to 2-5 in the conference Gilman got a 3-pointer from Andrew Hecker and two free throws from Zack Marion to stay within 11-7 five minutes in, but two buckets by Ovyn and one from Logan Amacher in the next minute pushed Owen-Withee’s lead to 17-7. Weaver added a 3-pointer before Hecker answered with a three-point play. But from there, Owen-Withee gradually extended to a 38-18 halftime lead and outscored the Pirates 34-6 in the second half.
One of the primary trouble points for Gilman was a 1-2-2 halfcourt trap by Owen-Withee that gave the Pirates fits throughout the first half, forcing turnovers at mid-court or rushing the Pirates, at times, after they broke it. Owen-Withee’s size inside also produced some scores off putbacks.
Hecker scored 18 of Gilman’s points but his night ended early when he fouled out with 8:30 to go on a tough call where it appeared he had partially blocked a shot. Two foul calls didn’t go his way earlier on offensive charge calls.
Branden Ustianowski and Caleb Marion got buckets in the first half when the Pirates were still within striking distance. Marion’s score off a press break made it 29-16. A Zack Marion steal, then a Dalton Wisocky assist led to a Hecker basket at the first-half buzzer for one of Gilman’s highlight plays of the night.
The Pirates fell to 0-6 in conference play and 1-7 overall with the loss.
Gilman is at Colby tonight, Thursday, before it is scheduled to play back-toback games against conference contender Neillsville Monday and Tuesday. The Monday game is in Gilman. Those games start at 6 p.m. The Pirates get a rematch with Spencer at home on Jan. 29. The Rockets won the first matchup back on Dec. 29.
Greenwood 83, Gilman 28
Playing the Indians for the second time in four days, Gilman’s luck was much like the first as host Greenwood wore the Pirates down with defensive pressure and rolled to an 83-28 win.
Gilman hung tough through the first nine or so minutes, getting some defensive stops and rebounds. Hecker opened the game with a 3-pointer, scored on a drive and hit another 3 to keep the Pirates within 12-8. He scored again to and 3-5 overall. make it 14-10.
But after that, Greenwood pulled away. A 29-4 surge opened up a 43-14 lead before Hecker put in his own rebound and got a three-point play out of it with 54 seconds left to make the halftime score 43-17.
Greenwood scored the first 11 points of the second half and was easily able to push the game into running-clock territory by the nine-minute mark.
Hecker finished with 22 of Gilman’s 28 points. Abram Wininger scored four and Zack Marion had an offensive putback in the first half.
The Indians were led by Cooper Bredlau’s 22 points. Westen Schmitz added 19 and Rogan Travis hit double figures with 10.
With the win, Greenwood held its spot atop the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference at 8-1. The Indians are 9-2 overall.
Greenwood 81, Gilman 39
Gilman got some early 3-point offense in its home gym Friday, but it didn’t hold up as Schmitz poured in 40 points to lead Greenwood to an 81-39 win.
Schmitz scored 28 of his points in the first half as the Indians tore out to a 46-15 lead. He drilled five 3s in the half and added six two-point field goals.
Gilman got a pair of 3s in the half from Hecker as well as Ustianowski. Hecker got hot in the second half and finished with 25 points. Ustianowski added another trey and wound up with 11 points for the Pirates.
Caleb Marion finished with three points, including a first-half bucket in the paint.
Bredlau and Nathan Revier also hit double figures for Greenwood with 10 points apiece. The Indians easily avenged an upset loss on Gilman’s home floor from last February with Friday’s win.
