By Robert Whitmire

The SPASH boys basketball team rolled to a 88 – 49 win over D.C. Everest at the field house Friday night and clinched the Wisconsin Valley Conference title with the win.

Joey Hauser with a slam dunk. (City Times photo)

SPASH scored early and often racing to an 18 – 2 lead at the 12:51 mark of the first half and took a commanding 54 – 17 lead into the intermission.

“Coach has been telling us that it’s getting towards the end of the season – the sprint, as he calls it,” said Keon’te Williams. “He says to just take off and don’t look back.”

Joey Hauser was the game’s leading scorer lighting up the board for the Panthers with 21 points. Drew Blair added 15 with eleven each from Brennan Mueller and Max Hofmeister.

“This was a big step for us winning the conference,” said Hauser. “We just continue to play one game at time and keep playing well. That has kind of been our philosophy the last two years.”

The SPASH Cheer team welcomed the Little Panthers Cheerleaders to the court for a halftime performance.

SPASH Cheer with Little Panthers. (City Times photo)

SPASH returns to the field house Friday, Feb. 17, when they host Wausau East, then hit the road for the regular season finale at Wausau West Thursday, Feb. 23. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 PM.

The SPASH Junior Varsity pulled out a 70 – 34 win led in scoring by Evan Vollendorf with 17 points. Joe Bergquist added eleven for the Panthers. The JV2 squad won 45 – 37. Teagan Kirsenlohr scored 10 points. Brady Franz chipped in eight to lead the SPASH attack.

Panther Scoring

Varsity: Joey Hauser 21; Drew Blair 15; Brennan Mueller 11; Max Hofmeister 11; Beau Rosenthal 8; Keon’te Williams 7; Drew Cullen 6; Logan Lewis 4; Brett Ehr 3; Andrew Erdman 2.

Junior Varsity: Evan Vollendorf 17; Joe Bergquist 11; Travis Johnson 8; Nolan Blair 7; Brett Ehr 7; Tom Hatton 6; Elliot Eron 6; Braden Christophersen 4; Darren Zwicker 4

JV2: Teagan Kirsenlohr 10; Brady Franz 8; Evan Thomas 6; Austin Beyer 5; Ben Netzinger 5; Justin Morton 4; Adam Willoughby 3; Lucas Wolfe 2; Ryan Gidlund 2.