Greg Bates, Leader Correspondent
That five in the win column for the Bonduel boys basketball team can look awfully deceiving.
The Bears trailed by 15 points to Wittenberg-Birnamwood early in the second half, but Bonduel made it a two-point game with under one minute remaining. But the visiting Chargers were 9 for 10 from the free-throw line in the final 45 seconds to pull out a 70-62 victory in Central Wisconsin Conference-8 action Thursday.
“A little disappointing, because we’ve been playing better,” Bonduel coach Duke Copp said. “I think we did play pretty well, we just missed shots.”
Wittenberg-Birnamwood (12-10, 7-7 Central Wisconsin Conference-8) was 19 for 24 at the free-throw line, 16 for 20 in the second half.
“We got it done down the stretch,” Wittenberg-Birnamwood coach Lon Ebel said. “I think we lost our focus and execution at times. That was pretty physical game, and we expect that when we come here. But we fought through it.”
Bonduel (5-17, 3-11 CWC-8) trailed 59-52 with 1:31 left in the game when Parker Bohm drained a 3-pointer. After a pair of Wittenberg-Birnamwood free throws, Bryce Weier hit a shot to make it 61-57. The Bears pressed on defense and created a steal. Isaac Garside dished it off to Bohm for a layup with 46.7 left to cut it a two-point deficit.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Teagon Lehman hit 5 of 6 free throws it make it 66-59. Bohm drained a 3-pointer with 9 seconds remaining, but that only trimmed it to six, 68-62.
“Some guys just stepped up and made plays,” Ebel said. “I know Teagon Lehman hit a lot of free throws down the stretch. We’ve actually been struggling with three throws lately, so it’s nice to see some guys hit them when we really need them.”
Bonduel — which honored its two seniors before the game, Brandon Olsen and Bryce Engel — cut its deficit to four or fewer points on three separate stretches in the second half, but Wittenberg-Birnamwood always had an answer.
“Tough game, we battled,” Copp said. “We gave up some shots early in the game and missed some bunnies, but our kids fought.”
Bonduel was in control early in the game, using a 14-4 run to go up 16-12. But Wittenberg-Birnamwood answered with a 20-5 spurt to close out the half, scoring the last 11 points to go up 32-21.
The Chargers took their biggest lead at 45-30 six minutes into the second half, but the Bears kept chipping away. Bonduel capped a 17-5 run, and it was 50-47 with 5:57 left in the game. But Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Cory Fraaza converted a three-play to give his team a little cushion.
“They kept fighting and fighting, and we knew it was going to be a battle,” Ebel said. “They’ve been playing good basketball. We knew it was going to be tough.”
Weier scored a game-high 24 points, 19 in the second half, for Bonduel.
“When he shoots well, we have a chance every time,” Copp said. “We have some other kids that should be shooting well.”
Wittenberg-Birnamwood had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double figures, led by Kody Szews’ 19 points.
Bonduel came in with a two-game winning streak and playing its best basketball of the season. Competing strong against Wittenberg-Birnamwood should give the Bears some added momentum heading into their playoff game at Wabeno/Laona on Tuesday.
“I think it helps a lot,” Copp said. “Our kids are getting confidence. Early in the year we were getting beat and we were doubting ourselves. I don’t think we’re doubting ourselves right now.”
Wittenberg-Birnamwood (70)
Kapitz 3 0-0 8; Lehman 2 7-8 12; Fraaza 5 7-10 17; Szews 7 5-6 19; Groshek 4 0-0 11; Kerstner 1 0-0 3.
Bonduel (62)
Weier 8 4-4 24; Garside 1 0-0 3; Olsen 1 0-0 2; Letter 3 0-0 8; Bohm 7 1-2 19; Cairns 3 0-0 6.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood 32 38 — 70
Bonduel 21 41 — 62