Superior boys down Wausau East in holiday tournament

The Superior High School boys basketball team improved to 6-1 Thursday with a 55-41 victory over Wausau East in the Wausau West holiday tournament.

“It was a great win for us after our loss to Eau Claire North last week,” said Dave Kontny, head coach of the Spartans.

Superior started off rough and trailed 14-9 after the first quarter. The Spartans troubles started when the team hit a 3-pointer to start the game but had it waved off because of a moving screen.

The team went cold from there until Jordan Hughes heated up and scored seven of Superior’s nine points for the quarter.

“That gave us a lift even though we trailed, and then our defense took over from there giving them only six in the second quarter,” Kontny said.

The Spartans outscored Wausau East 17-6 in the second quarter to take a 26-20 lead into halftime.

Superior then held even in the third quarter and put the game away in the fourth by holding Wausau East to just four points.

“I told the kids going into the fourth that East looked tired from our pressure and to turn it up another notch and make them pay for their mistakes, and we did,” Kontny said. “We had them for 19 turnovers in the second half, and a lot of them were in the fourth.”

Nick Melhum led Superior with 15 points, and Hughes added 14. Ben Erickson finished with nine points, Carter Anderson had six, Erick Tunell had four, Derek Kontny had three, and Anthony Valentine and Bryan Sanders added two points apiece.

“I am proud of our kids,” Kontny said. “Every one of them played so hard, and even when some of their shots weren’t falling, they never quit playing defense and that was the difference.”

Superior 9-17-17-12—55

Wausau East 14-6-17-4—41

Supeiror: Ben Erickson 9; Jordan Hughes 14; Carter Anderson 6; Nick Melhum 15; Derek Kontny 3; Bryan Sanders 2; Eric Tunell 4; Anthony Valentine 2. 3-point goals: Hughes 2; Melhum 1. Free throws: 6-of-11.

Wausau East: Taylor 3; Waldvoget 4; Wilson 2; Widperok 10; Strom 9; Felten 13. Free throws: 13-of-22.

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