BOYS BASKETBALL: Tomah outlasted in OT by Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln

Tomah's non-conference clash with Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln was about as even as it gets for the first 36 minutes of play. Unfortunately for the Timberwolves, it was the Red Raiders who finally created the decisive separation in overtime to claim the victory.

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln (8-15) outlasted the Timberwolves for an 83-75 OT victory when the two sides squared off to begin the final week of the regular season on Monday, February 19 in Tomah.

A back-and-forth first half where Tomah led by as much as five and the Red Raiders were up by as much as four fittingly ended with the two sides tied at 32-32 heading into the locker room at the break.

In the second half, the Timberwolves surged ahead 46-37 thanks to a 10-0 run that was capped off with an and-1 by freshman guard Quinn Gerke with 11:32 to go in regulation. Though Wisconsin Rapids stopped the bleeding, Tomah continued to lead and were ahead 65-61 going into the final minute.

Senior guard Keaton Broeren splashed 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions for the Red Raiders to tie things up at 67-67 with under 20 seconds left in regulation. Tomah freshman forward Michael Zastoupil and Gerke each missed a three that would've won the game for the Timberwolves on their final possession, sending the game to overtime.

The Red Raiders scored the first seven points of overtime and never trailed from there, as they outscored Tomah 16-8 in the extra four-minute session.

The Timberwolves were led on the night by freshman shooting guard Owen Laudon with 20 points (including going 5 of 8 from 3-point range), Quinn Gerke with 18 points, seven rebounds and three assists, Michael Zastoupil with 17 points and three assists, senior forward/center Jayden Brieske with nine points and 14 rebounds and freshman small forward Adam Brieske with six rebounds.

Leading the way for Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln were junior guard Sean Roenius with 23 points and five assists, Keaton Broeren with 19 points (including a 5-of-10 mark from 3-points range) and four steals, senior guard Traiden Clary with 18 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double, sophomore guard Brody Gilbertson with 11 points and seven rebounds and junior forward Austin Tisland with five rebounds.

UP NEXT

The Timberwolves (5-18 overall, 2-9 Mississippi Valley) put the finishing touches on both conference play and the 2023-24 regular season when they host the Aquinas Blugolds (18-5, 6-5) from La Crosse on Thursday, February 22 at 7:15 p.m. in Tomah.