Before the Oconto Falls High School boys basketball team could even get its second shot off against Luxemburg-Casco on Friday, the Panthers were already down 15-0.
That’s what kind of night it was for OFHS.
Luxemburg-Casco hit over 50 percent of its shots, including 12 3-pointers, as Oconto Falls fell 78-43 at home in a Bay Conference game.
“I challenged them after the game about playing with heart and pride,” Oconto Falls coach Kirk Hirst said. “It seems like these guys when they get down far enough they feel like they can start playing and just relax instead of just playing that way from the beginning.”
The beginning was rough for Oconto Falls. The Spartans’ David Vlotho hit the first 10 points of the game, but the Panthers clawed back with three baskets.
“We were down 17-8 at the quarter, and you’re still right there after giving them a hot start,” Hirst said. “Then in the second quarter we came out flat.”
The Spartans got two more 3-pointers from Vlotho during a 14-2 run to up their lead to 31-10 midway through the quarter. Vlotho had 20 points in the first half and 22 for the game.
“We’ve got guys that can shoot,” Luxemburg-Casco coach Kyle Thayse said. “When they get hot, they can shoot the ball. We’ve got a couple guys that can do it, and tonight was David’s night.”
After trailing by 28 points, 42-14, at halftime, Oconto Falls (1-11, 1-8 Bay Conference) was outscored just 19-16 in the third quarter. However, by that point, it was too late for a comeback. Luxemburg-Casco (6-7, 3-5 Bay) held at least a 29-point advantage the entire second half.
Even though it was a blowout, Thayse was able to keep his players’ intensity up.
“You preach that it’s continue on, and you start every quarter fresh,” Thayse said. “You want to try to be better and improve every quarter and every time you’re on the floor. You’re trying to get better as a basketball team.”
James Salscheider was the leading scorer for Oconto Falls with 10 points. Alex Young added five points.
Following Friday’s game, Hirst had a message for his players. It’s something he hopes they will take to heart.
“I said in the locker room, ‘You’ve got to put that behind you. There’s a lot of season left. We’ve got goals we want to achieve that are still out in front of us, and we’ve got to stay together. We can’t get down and start pointing fingers here and there,’” Hirst said.
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