The Manawa boys’ basketball team played an NBA type schedule last week by playing three games within five days.
On Monday Feb. 4 they travel to Wittenberg and recorded their first conference win with a 68-47 victory over the Chargers. The next day they traveled to Iola and dropped a 59-42 decision to the Thunderbirds. Finally, on Friday, Feb. 8, they returned home to face CWC-8 co-leader Shiocton.
The Chiefs had little trouble downing the Wolves 62-33 to remain in a tie with Amherst for the conference title.
Shiocton 62, Manawa 33
Manawa jumped out to leads of 2-0 and 5-3 against Shiocton. Shiocton battled back to move into the lead. Shiocton was paced by Talon Heinemeyer who scored six points during an 8-0 Shiocton run. Shiocton finished the quarter with an 11-2 run and held an 18-9 after one quarter of play.
Austin Dean kept the Wolves in the game by knocking down two three-pointers as the two teams each scored nine points in the second quarter. Manawa trailed by nine at halftime at 27-18. Shiocton opened the second half with a 7-0 run and finished the frame with a 6-0 run to enjoy a 22-9 third quarter. Shiocton again outscored Manawa in the fourth quarter, this time 13-6.
Dean led the Wolves with 13 points. Logan Hass chipped in with six points.
Heinemeyer led Shiocton with 18 points.
Iola-Scandinavia 59, Manawa 42
The Thunderbirds dominated the first half, as they held the Wolves to eight points in both the first and second quarters. That, coupled with the Thunderbirds scoring 15 points and 20 points in the first and second quarter, respectively, propelled I-S to a 35-16 halftime lead.
Manawa regrouped during halftime and outscored I-S 11-9 in the third quarter. The two teams played even in the fourth quarter, with each team scoring 15 points. The poor first half was too much to overcome, as the Wolves fell 59-42.
Wesley Krauss, Alex Murphy and Brandon Bartel each scored seven points for the Wolves. Kristian Welch and Braiden Garbe led the Thunderbirds with 12 points each.