Plans for the Tigerton boys basketball team’s first trip to state in program history have been put on hold.
The Tigers headed into their WIAA Division 5 sectional final with Reedsville on March 14 with a 28-0 record, but the Panthers ended Tigerton’s season with a 56-45 loss at Oconto Falls High School.
The loss came two days after the Tigers kept their unbeaten season alive with a 54-41 win over Wabeno/Laona in a sectional semifinal in Antigo.
Reedsville 56, Tigerton 45
Tigerton trailed by as many as six points in the first half, but closed the half with a 16-5 run to take a 33-28 lead at the break.
The lead didn’t last long, however, as the Panthers opened the second half with seven straight points in less than two minutes and held the Tigers to 12 points in the half.
“They came out and hit us hard in the mouth right away,” coach Dan Hoffa said. “They scored seven unanswered (points). We got a little flustered. That’s why I took a time out. We were able to tame ourselves and get back in it. We tied it and took the lead again.”
Consecutive baskets from James Brady turned a 37-35 deficit into a 29-37 lead, but Reedsville responded with 3-pointers from Jack Schwahn and Connor McDonald, and the Panthers never trailed again.
Once the Panthers had the lead, they began milking the clock and ran off more than two minutes on one possession.
“I know this has been a debate for a couple of years now, but should we or shouldn’t we have a shot clock,” Hoffa said. “They started pulling it out with about 13 (minutes) to go when they were only up by 2 or 4. We talked about if we get down, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Sure enough, that’s what happened.”
Another Brady basket cut Reedsville’s lead to 45-41, but the Panthers closed the game with an 11-4 run and scored their last five points from the free-throw line after the Tigers needed to foul to get the ball back.
Brady scored 18 of Tigerton’s 33 points in the first half and 10 of the team’s 12 in the second half to finish with a game-high 28. Brody Miller added 10 points, but no other Tigerton player scored more than three.
Schwahn led the Panthers with 21 points, including five 3-pointers. Arden Strenn and Ben Prochnow also finished in double figures with 15 and 13 points, respectively.
Tigerton 54, Wabeno/Laona 41
Brady’s 26 points and 18 rebounds helped the Tigers keep their season alive with a win over the Rebels.
Tigerton took a 29-21 lead into the locker room at halftime and outscored the Rebels 25-20 over the final 18 minutes.
“Our strength is inside, obviously,” Hoffa said. “(Brady) did what he had to do and our guards did just enough to get us over that hump. Anytime there was a run, we were able to hold our composure and continue to stay the course and get a bucket. That’s always been our motto: get a bucket, get a stop.”
Brady was the only Tigerton player to score in double figures, as Miller and Sam Anheuser added eight points each.
“Once we were able to pull away and give ourselves a little bit of breathing room, you could tell (Wabeno/Laona) panicked a little bit,” Hoffa said. “Give them credit. They put that pressure on us, and it’s something honestly I don’t think we really expected. Nobody’s really pressured us all year long. We had our turnovers, but we were able to overcome it and get some easy buckets down the stretch.”
Besides Brady, the Tigers’ defensive effort also led to the win, Hoffa said.
“That defense is so tough,” he said. “(Wabeno/Laona) is guard-oriented, and they live and die by that 3. Kudos to these guys. They played awesome.”
Although the season ended with a loss, Hoffa hopes his players will remember the most successful season in program history.
“It was a magical season for our boys, for the school, for the town,” he said. “I can’t be prouder of what we’ve done and accomplished. Unfortunately, we fell one short. It hurts, it stings, but like I told the boys, if you give it a week or two and go back and look at the entire season, they’re going to be proud of what they’ve done.”
