If the season opener is any indication, the Waupaca boys’ basketball team is capable of making some noise in the Eastern Valley Conference.
The Comets opened the season Nov. 24 by dropping a 55-52 nonconference loss to Denmark, but coach Ron Weber was happy with his team’s effort.
“I thought we competed very well for the three practices we had coming into the season,” he said. “Everything is a little out of whack when you’re new to a sport. We’re certainly new to basketball.”
Weber had only three varsity players to work with during the first week of practice while the others were preparing for the Division 3 state football championship game.
The Comets held only three practices as a full team before the first game.
“I can’t be too disappointed,” Weber said. “I thought the kids competed and it was pretty much on their natural instincts. I haven’t been able to break things down and put in anything significant offensively.”
Waupaca outscored the Vikings 19-16 in the first quarter, but Denmark came back to take a 29-24 halftime lead. The teams went into the fourth quarter tied at 43-43.
The lead changed hands three times in the quarter before Denmark’s Tanner Umentum hit a three-pointer with 32 seconds remaining to give the Vikings a 55-52 lead. Waupaca’s Bryce Neidert missed a game-tying three with 13 seconds remaining, but the Comets had another chance after Brando Vasquez came up with a steal. Zander Neuville had an open look that would have tied the game at the buzzer, but the shot rolled off of the rim.
“They hit the one big three and we had some good looks at the end,” Weber said. “We had a timeout left, but I think you can get better looks in transition. Brando really made a nice pitch ahead to Zander and Zander ended up with a good look.”
Nate Jenson had a big game for the Comets, as he finished with a game-high 24 points and 17 rebounds. Vasquez also finished in double figures with 11.
Waupaca outrebounded Denmark 45-24 and had a 15-3 advantage in offensive boards.
“This Denmark team is not a bad club,” Weber said. “They have some shooters and their size is 6-7, 6-4, 6-3 up front.”
Waupaca opened conference play Nov. 27 at Appleton Xavier and will host defending EVC champion Little Chute at 7:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30.
“We know Little Chute is a state powerhouse,” Weber said. “Xavier’s a very good team with three really wonderful players and there are two Division 1 prospects at Little Chute. We’re going to see some pretty good basketball players this week.”
Waupaca Boys’ Basketball 2012-13 Schedule
Varsity
Saturday, Nov. 24 – vs. Denmark, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 – vs. Little Chute, 7:15 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 3 – at New London, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 6 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 8 – vs. Ripon, 2:30 p.m. (rescheduled from Nov. 16)
Monday, Dec. 10 – vs. Winneconne, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14 – vs. Berlin, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 18 – at Green Bay Preble, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20 – at Clintonville, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28 – at Auburndale Invitational, 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29 – at Auburndale Invitational, TBA.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – vs. Freedom, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 8 – at Ripon, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 11 – vs. Clintonville, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17 – vs. Appleton Xavier, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 22 – at Little Chute, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 25 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 31 – at Winneconne, 7:15 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Berlin, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 8 – vs. Wausau West, 7:15 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 14 – at Freedom, 7:15 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Saturday, Nov. 24 – vs. Denmark, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 – vs. Little Chute, 5:45 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 3 – at New London, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 6 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:45 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 10 – vs. Winneconne, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14 – vs. Berlin, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 18 – at Green Bay Preble, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20 – at Clintonville, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28 – at Auburndale Invitational, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 29 – at Auburndale Invitational, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – vs. Freedom, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 8 – at Ripon, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 11 – vs. Clintonville, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17 – vs. Appleton Xavier, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 22 – at Little Chute, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 25 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 31 – at Winneconne, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Berlin, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 8 – vs. Wausau West, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 14 – at Freedom, 5:45 p.m.
Freshman
Saturday, Nov. 24 – vs. Denmark, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 27 – at Appleton Xavier, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 30 – vs. Little Chute, 5:45 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 3 – at New London, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 6 – at Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:45 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 10 – vs. Winneconne, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14 – vs. Berlin, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 18 – at Green Bay Preble, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 20 – at Clintonville, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 3 – vs. Freedom, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 8 – at Ripon, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 11 – vs. Clintonville, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 17 – vs. Appleton Xavier, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 22 – at Little Chute, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 25 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 31 – at Winneconne, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Berlin, 5:45 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 8 – vs. Wausau West, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 14 – at Freedom, 5:45 p.m.