Making a second straight run to the Kohl Center is the goal for the Gibraltar boys' basketball team as they begin their 2023 WIAA Tournament run in Fish Creek on Tuesday with a home game against Wausaukee.

 

The Vikings enter the postseason with a lot of momentum, winning four of their last five games with their lone blemish against the Packerland Conference champion Southern Door Eagles. In their last game, Jake Schar scored 14 points on Friday night, but it was his final two that were the most important as they were the ones that beat Algoma 42-40. The Vikings traded blows with the Wolves the entire game as both teams would go on mini four to six-point runs throughout the first half. The Wolves would enter the second half with a slim two-point advantage that once again wasn't safe throughout the period. Kaden Vardon tied the game with a three-pointer play with 20 seconds remaining before Schar's heroics at the horn. In addition to Schar's 14 points, Will Friedenfels scored 16 points and Carl Burgess added five points. 

 

The Rangers come into the game trying to break out of a month-long funk as they have lost eight of their last 10 games. That includes an 80-21 loss to Crivitz where they were outscored by 44 points in the first half. They are led by Layne Rowley who averages around 15 points and eight rebounds per game for the Rangers. Danny Suennen (7.9 ppg) and Prestin Brunette (6.8 ppg) complement Rowley on offense.

 

This is a rematch of a 2020 playoff matchup where the Rangers beat the Vikings 79-70. The Rangers would go on to lose in the sectional semi-final to Wabeno-Laona by single point before every team would be sidelined due to the pandemic. Gibraltar's Friedenfels and Wausaukee's Rowley were freshman did not score a single point.

 

Gibraltar will host Wausaukee in the opening round of the WIAA Tournament on Tuesday in Fish Creek. Tim Kowols and Bryan Mazur will have the call on 105.1 The GOAT beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the pregame show followed by the opening tip at 7 p.m.

 

Click here to listen to our interview with head coach Travis Ward