The Bonduel High School boys basketball team struggled in the first of a series of tests against the top of the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 Friday, losing 80-45 to Stevens Point Pacelli in Bonduel.
Pacelli (9-2, 5-1 CWC-8) raced out to a 26-8 lead in the first quarter, led by senior Isaac Elliott’s, who scored 16 of his 20 points in the period. The Cardinals played a tough press defense for most of the game.
“Our kids just didn’t take care of the ball and lost their focus a little bit,” Bonduel coach Duke Copp said. “It’s fundamental things. We’ve worked on it, but, hey, Pacelli is one of the best teams we’ll see all year.”
Even when Bonduel (6-7, 2-4 CWC-8) was able to get by Pacelli’s press, shots refused to fall.
Connor Rosin, a 6-foot-2 junior, led Bonduel with 15 points, including three 3-pointers.
Pacelli got 20 points from Brett O’Sullivan and 18 from Jacob Feltz.
With both teams racking up 22 fouls and spending a big chunk of the game in the bonus, Pacelli was a superb 26 of 28 from the free-throw line. Bonduel made 17 of 23 free-throw attempts.
Bonduel took the opportunity in the second half to try some different schemes and get bench players some experience.
Matthew LaBerge, a 5-foot-8 junior, nailed a late 3-pointer that fired up the Bears.
“He’s a great kid,” Copp said. “Always working hard at practice. It was great to see.”
The coach hopes his team will bounce back quickly, with a tough schedule on the horizon.
“We just want to get better each game,” Copp said. “We took a step back tonight and we’re hoping to move forward.”
Pacelli, which went into Friday night tied atop the CWC-8 standings with Amherst (10-2, 4-1 CWC-8) and Shiocton (6-3, 4-1 CWC-8) and only a half game ahead of Iola-Scandinavia (10-2, 4-2 CWC-8), is just the first test for Bonduel, which will face Iola-Scandinavia next week and Amherst on Jan. 28.
Pacelli (80)
Feltz 7 4-5 18, Groos 1 4-4 6, I. Elliott 8 3-3 20, O’Sullivan 6 8-8 20, Jamison 1 5-6 8, Glodowski 0 2-2 2, Shibilski 3 0-0 6
Bonduel (45)
Rosin 4 4-4 15, Dobratz 1 4-4 6, VanderLinden 3 0-0 6, Zernicke 1 3-3 5, Rohloff 0 1-4 1, Shoup 1 1-2 3, Fischer 1 0-1 2, Berry 0 4-5 4, LaBerge 1 0-0 3
Pacelli 26 15 22 17 — 80
Bonduel 8 9 15 13 — 45
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