Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Neal Cerveny has taken over the Gresham offense this season. The junior is averaging over 27 points per game and holds the school record after a 48-point game in December.
There were big shoes to fill on the Gresham High School boys basketball team when Christian Haffner graduated last year.
The Central Wisconsin Conference-10 Player of the Year, who is playing for Marquette University this season, averaged 26 points per game in his final year.
Surprisingly, the Gresham offense has continued to roll, with guard/forward Neal Cerveny stepping up to fill much of the void. The junior is averaging 27.2 points per game and posted a school-record 48 points Dec. 11 against Marion.
“He played a really good game,” Gresham head coach Jeff Zobeck said. “He moves well without the ball. He keeps working, keeps cutting and keeps moving.”
In the 89-29 blowout of the Mustangs, the 6-foot-2 Cerveny missed just four field goals, shooting nealy 81 percent from the field. He added perfect 8-for-8 shooting from the free-throw line, as well.
“It takes a team to get the guy 48 points. A lot of great assists. Defense and rebounding to get more opportunities, and that’s what I emphasize with the guys,” Zobeck said. “It’s a great accomplishment for him, but it’s a team effort. If he scores 48 or if we spread that 48 out between four guys and they each get 12, it still takes a team effort to get those points.”
The Wildcats (9-0, 6-0 Central Wisconsin Conference-10) are averaging 76.4 points per game, about 9 points better than a season ago.
Cerveny is shooting a remarkable 56 percent from the field, including close to a 43 percent mark from behind the 3-point line.
He also leads the team with 6.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game, and trails only Drew Haffner and Ray Creapeau in assists.
Christian Haffner held the previous scoring record, set last season when he scored 47 points in a 92-70 win over Gibraltar.
The Wildcats travel to Gibraltar on Tuesday.
Zobeck said Cerveny and Christian Haffner have completely different styles of play. The biggest similarity between the two, he said, is the work each of them put in outside of the games.
“They are two of the hardest workers, most committed, spend the most time in the gym, in the weight room, all that stuff,” Zobeck said. “They are both really deserving of that recognition.”