Senior forward Mylo Albrecht scored 27 points as the Northland Pines boys basketball team defeated the Tomahawk Hatchets 62-33 in a Great Northern Conference (GNC) game at the fieldhouse in Eagle River last Friday.
The Eagles jumped out to a 15-0 lead with tough defense and hot shooting to start the game, highlighted by two 3-pointers by Albrecht and an Ethan Miller two-handed dunk on a fast break.
“We did a great job early in our full-court man (defense) and we did it without fouling,” said Pines coach Terry Klemett. “I thought the first 8 to 9 minutes we were very good on both sides of the ball.”
The Eagles played solid man-to-man defense the remainder of the half and stayed hot on the offensive end, building a 40-9 lead at the intermission. Klemett was able to play multiple combinations throughout the first half and basically platooned his 10 varsity players in the second half, switching out five players at a time every 3 to 4 minutes.
The Eagles weren’t as crisp on the offensive end in the second half, but cruised to the 29-point victory.
Albrecht was an offensive machine, hitting 5 of 8 on drives to the hoop and 5 of 10 from 3-point range. He added 2 of 2 at the free throw line for his game-high 27 points
“Mylo had another great night,” said Klemett. “We talked all week about him being to unselfish and we needed him to have more of scoring mind, and that is what he did.”
While Albrecht was the only Eagle in double figures, every player in the lineup scored. Junior Ryan Rydeski had eight points, junior Jake Albrecht tossed in seven and junior Tyler Vojta had five points.
“I thought we did our things well throughout the entire game and we got everyone quality minutes,” said Klemett. “Everyone on this club is capable of producing in our systems and it was good that we got real game footage of that.”
Pines made 12 of 25 from the field for 48% and 11 of 30 from 3-point range for 37%.
Klemett said he was impressed with the Eagles’ defense, which allowed just nine points in the first half when Pines played an aggressive man defense. The Eagles had 13 steals in the game.
“Defensively we were outstanding with only seven fouls through the entire contest,” he said. “That usually tells us that we’re defending with our feet and in perfect positioning within our defense.”
The Eagles improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the GNC. Pines will travel to Rhinelander this Friday, Dec. 19, for a 7:30 p.m. game against the Hodags.
“All in all, it’s been a great few weeks of basketball and to be 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the GNC is great,” said Klemett. “Fridays game against the Hodags should be a good one and a game we have been looking at for a long time. We will be prepared.”
During the holiday break, the Eagles will play in the Sentry Classic at Stevens Point. The semifinal will feature Pines against Auburndale at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27. The other semi will pit Amherst against Pacelli. The consolation and championship games are set for Sunday, Dec. 28.
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