Pirates are no match for Neillsville boys

The Gilman Pirates quickly fell behind 18-2 on Friday, then made some things happen and scrapped for a while, but eventually ran out of gas and just did not have the firepower to hang with Neillsville in a 78-23 home defeat.

The Warriors, who are still on the fringes of the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference title chase at 8-3, got scoring from 11 different players, hit eight 3-point shots and found some success converting turnovers and offensive rebounds into points in their second lopsided win of the season over the Pirates.

Gilman, though, had some good moments in the first half and early in the second. Their tenacity got them some offensive rebounds and free throw opportunities, which they didn’t take full advantage of. They were two for 15 in the first half alone and finished three for 17.

Two baskets inside from Caleb Marion made it 31-13 and his 12-foot shot later in the half at the end of a successful press break made it 33-16. Neillsville scored the last six points of the half to take a 39-16 lead into the locker room. Then the Warriors got 3s from Andrew Brown and Braylon Boyer in a 9-1 spurt to start the second half that opened up a 48-17 lead before Marion got Gilman’s first field goal of the half at the 14:57 mark. Brayden Olynick and Marion scored the team’s last baskets before the Pirates went scoreless for the last 9:13.

Marion finished with 12 points to lead the Pirates, Olynick scored eight, Max Ustianowski had a first-half basket and Sam Syryczuk added one free throw. Gilman is 0-11 in conference play.

Brown scored 14 points to pace the Warriors, while Boyer added 13 and Alex Roman added 11.

The Pirates lost Monday 75-41 at Rib Lake to fall to 0-19 overall. Gilman is at Loyal tonight, Thursday, hosts Spencer Tuesday and then heads to title contender Columbus Catholic on Feb. 17 to close out conference play. All three games tip at 7:15 p.m.