Jason Arndt, jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Photo by JLW Photography Clintonville High School guard Aaron Morse tries to elude Shawano senior Sajen Knueppel during the Hawks’ 43-21 nonconference win Monday night at Shawano.
Photo by JLW Photography Shawano Community High School freshman Eric Carl makes one of his six field goals during the Hawks’ 43-21 win Monday night over visiting Clintonville. Carl made five 3-pointers en route to a game-high 17 points.
A game-opening 13-1 run gave the red-clad home crowd a sense that Monday night’s game at Shawano Community High School could turn into a shooting clinic.
And with Clintonville alternating a variety of zone defenses challenging the Hawks to beat them from the outside, the Shawano boys basketball team obliged.
Chief among the perimeter marksmen was freshman Eric Carl, who ignited the Hawks’ initial rally with three 3-point shots that set the tempo of the game and propelled Shawano to a 47-21 nonconference win.
Shawano (15-4, 9-4 Bay Conference) coach Christopher Kellett adjusted the Hawks’ offensive scheme after seeing the Truckers’ defense.
“Clintonville is a scrappy team. They like to slow the game down and set out different game plans,” Kellett said. “They like to play zone — 1-3-1, 1-2-2. Those are the ones we don’t see very often, so it was good for us to go out and get some shots early.
“Our strategy versus a 1-3-1 was to place Carl and Jack Lacy at the corners, and one of those two guys had to be open.”
The strategy paid off for Carl, who nailed five 3-pointers, including one in the second quarter to pull the Hawks ahead 18-8. His fifth trey of the night came at the start of the second half and gave the Hawks a 31-8 lead.
Carl made five of his six attempts from beyond the arc and added a two-point field goal for a game-high 17 points.
“He is a shooter,” Kellett said. “He puts a lot of time into it. He comes to the gym when there is not practice.”
The visitors were held to five field goals for the game, with Damon Lorge leading the Truckers (4-13, 3-10 Eastern Valley Conference) with six points.
Clintonville coach Shawn Howe acknowledged that the Hawks brought more offense than his club was able to handle.
“We needed to play better defense,” Howe said. “Shawano has got a good squad. They did a good job of moving the ball, and they shot the ball very well.”
Clintonville (21)
Lorge 1 3-4 6, Petermann 1 2-2 4, Morse 1 1-3 3, Krueger 1 0-0 3, Hogen 1 1-1 3, Hartleben 0 2-2 2, Kenfield 0 0-2 0.
Shawano (43)
Carl 6 0-0 17, Gueths 0 5-6 5, Jack Lacy 2 1-1 5, Jacob Lacy 1 1-2 4, Mueller 1 0-0 3, Bartz 1 0-0 3, Sousek 0 2-2 2, Hintz 1 0-0 2, Richards 1 0-0 2.
Clintonville 6 2 9 4 - 21
Shawano 15 13 9 6 - 43