Two state-ranked teams, a combined a record of 23-1 and first place in the conference on the line added up to an intriguing girls basketball matchup Jan. 13 in Bonduel.
The intrigue didn’t last very long, however, as Wittenberg-Birnamwood held Bonduel to 12 points in the first half and cruised to a 58-35 win over the Bears.
The win was the 12th in 12 games for the Chargers, while Bonduel fell to 12-2 after the Bears’ first loss in almost two months. Both teams headed into the game with a 6-0 mark in Central Wisconsin Conference-East games.
Melaina Granquist scored 12 of her game-high 26 points to help the Chargers build a 29-6 lead in the first half.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood led 38-12 at halftime with two of its players - Granquist and Rory Salvesen - already in double figures with 17 and 10 points, respectively.
It didn’t get any better for the Bears in the second half, as the Chargers outscored the home team 12-4 to take a 50-16 lead. Bonduel trailed by 35 points at one point before ending the game with a 15-3 run.
Salvesen added 18 points to go along with Granquist’s 26 for the Chargers, while Emery Thompson came in off of the bench to lead Bonduel with 10.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Nick Mechelke said his defense helped set the tone early.
“That’s our game,” he said. “We work on this press. It’s hard to plan against. Teams can’t practice against it, because they don’t have the people to represent it in practice.”
The win marked the halfway point in the CWC-East schedule. The Bears and Chargers will play again Feb. 13 in Wittenberg.
The Chargers came into the game as the sixth-ranked team in the state in Division 3, while the Bears were seventh in Division 4.
“I know (Bonduel coach) Jerry (Reinke) very well,” Mechelke said. “We can be best friends, but we want to beat each other. This is our rival game, whether it’s football, basketball, volleyball, anything.
“This is always a big game for us. It’s Bonduel. Each team is undefeated in conference. Bonduel had one loss to a very good St. Mary Catholic team. We’ve always been back and forth, first or second, and that’s how it’s been for the last couple years. We talked about it in practice, and I’m sure he did the same thing. This is a big game to see who’s going to be at the top. Whoever wins has the bull’s eye on their back for the second half of the season.”
The Chargers’ success – which already includes wins over Mosinee, Green Bay Preble, Wausau West and Medford – isn’t a shock to Mechelke.
“Am I surprised?” he asked. “No. I had the same group of kids that have played in two sectional final games. They have a lot of big games under their belt now. This group is ready for whatever comes.”
