SPASH holds off Evergreens, WVC race tightens
By MMC staff
STEVENS POINT – What a difference one game can make. The SPASH Panthers shook things up in the Wisconsin Valley Conference standings, with a 71-63 home court win over D.C. Everest on Jan. 10 in Stevens Point. With the Everest loss, paired with wins by Marshfield and Merrill, there is now a three-way tie for first place in the WVC. The Evergreens suffered their first conference loss of the season in the game with SPASH, putting D.C. Everest, Marshfield and Merrill all at 3-1 in WVC play.
“It was a great game,” Panthers Head Coach Jon Krull said afterward. “I thought that we played very sound for most of the game, and really had great patience on offense. We were able to get shots at the hoop, which really helped us go on a couple of runs. D.C. Everest can score a lot of points and in a lot of ways, and we were at times able to get them out of rhythm and limit them to one shot a possession. I am proud of our kids’ energy and ability to compete.”
The Panthers outscored the Evergreens in the first half 34-29, and in the second half 37-34. Nate Streveler led Stevens Point with 24 points. James Jacobs added 17 points. Gavin Hyer scored 12. The Evergreens had five players in double figures, led by Alec Stuedemann with 16. Bryan Halambeck added 13 points, while Colton Hall scored 11 points and Keaton Edwards and Cade Sivertson each had 10.
SPASH improved to 5-5 overall with the win, and 2-1 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. The Panthers are at Wausau West on Jan. 17.