Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School sophomore Tori DePerry made her mark in the Hawks’ playoff victory Tuesday with 21 points and nine rebounds in her first game back from an ankle injury.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Gresham vs. Tigerton
The Gresham boys basketball team has a chance to lock up its first conference title in 15 years with a victory at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at home.
The Wildcats, who sit at 18-3 overall, are 16-1 in the Central Wisconsin Conference-10 and tied for the conference lead with Almond-Bancroft, which faces Marion in its final game.
Gresham last won a conference title during the 2001-02 season.
The Wildcats also can continue their momentum heading into the playoffs as the top seed in their regional, an accomplishment matched by the team from two years ago. The 2015 Wildcats lost in the regional final to Green Bay NEW Lutheran, which advanced to state.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Bonduel vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood
The Bonduel boys basketball team, which has won three out of its past five games, can show just how much it has improved since the first meeting with Wittenberg-Birnamwood when the Central Wisconsin Conference-8 teams meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Bonduel.
The Bears (5-16, 3-10 CWC-8) won’t be able to move higher than seventh in the final conference standings, but a win on Thursday would be consecutive victories over the fifth- and sixth-ranked teams in the conference. Bonduel, which has a young core, had a difficult start to the season, dropping its first nine CWC-8 meetings.
The Chargers (11-10, 6-7 CWC-8) defeated Bonduel, 70-61, in Wittenberg on Jan. 24.
STANDOUT
Shawano Community High School sophomore Tori DePerry posted 21 points and nine rebounds in her first game back from an ankle injury that hampered her over the final three weeks of the season.
The Hawks (10-13, 5-9 Bay Conference), who defeated Wausau East on Tuesday night, 79-73, will need her at full strength to make a playoff push, which includes a game at New London at 7 p.m. Thursday and, if they win, a likely trip to Lakeland on Saturday.
QUICK HITS
• Menominee Indian High School senior Antonio Mahkimetas has 112 career wrestling victories prior to his first trip to state, which begins Thursday night at the Kohl Center in Madison.
• The Shawano girls basketball team posted its highest point total of the season in Tuesday’s regional quarterfinal victory over Wausau East with 79 points. The previous high was 73 points in a win over Xavier on Jan. 26.