A 23-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter was too much for the Weyauwega-Fremont boys’ basketball team to overcome.
The Indians outscored Wittenberg-Birnamwood 18-8 over the final eight minutes, but still came out on the short end of a 57-44 score Monday, Dec. 12, in a Central Wisconsin 8 Conference contest in Wittenberg.
The Indians also dropped a 44-37 decision Friday, Dec. 9, in Amherst.
W-B 57, W-F 44
WITTENBERG – The host Chargers outscored the Indians 16-9 in the first quarter, 20-8 in the second and 13-9 in the third to take a 49-26 lead into the final period.
Bryce Behn led the Indians with 10 points, while Calvin Swanson added eight.
Mitchell School and Michael Hegewald did most of the damage for the Chargers, as they finished with 23 and 19, respectively.
Amherst 44, W-F 37
AMHERST – Amherst came into the CWC-8 opener after outscoring its first three opponents by more than 28 points a game.
However, the Indians gave the Falcons all they could handle.
“I’m way too excited for having a loss,” W-F coach Andy Schroeder said. “It’s coming. They’re starting to believe in themselves. We know we were four layups or putbacks from having eight more points.”
It was a two-possession game for most of the contest. Amherst outscored the visitors 12-11 in the first quarter and 10-7 over the next eight minutes to take a 22-18 halftime lead.
The Indians never got any closer than four points in the second half. Amherst took a 37-28 lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Indians chipped away and eventually cut the lead to 42-37 on Behn’s three free throws with 50 seconds remaining.
“I believe we’re going to have a lot of these games where we have to grind them out,” Amherst coach Gregg Jensen said. “It wasn’t a surprise that (shots) weren’t falling for us. We played for a little while like we were behind when we were ahead. I had to remind them of that.”
Behn led W-F with 13 points, while Wes Alix added 11 and Tanner Ross finished with seven.
“(Alix) is coming off of a sprained ankle, but he gave us everything he had,” Schroeder said. “His effort was phenomenal.”
Caleb Glennon led Amherst with 14 points and Steve Maves also finished in double figures with a dozen.
The Indians will host Bonduel Friday, Dec. 16, in another CWC-8 matchup before heading to New London for a nonconference game Tuesday, Dec. 20, with the Bulldogs.