Game Report: Waunakee 58, Fort Atkinson 48

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEYS TO THE GAME</strong><br><br>Four things stood out in Waunakee's triumph over Fort Atkinson in a Badger Large Conference contest in Waunakee Thursday night. First and foremost, Waunakee is super efficient on offense and stingy on defense. The Warriors share the ball, score consistently on cuts to the basket and take good shots. Defensively, Waunakee has the length and overall size to make things tough for opponents on the perimeter and in the lane. Secondly, Waunakee played its stellar defense without fouling as Fort Atkinson attempted just two foul shots and missed both. Third, Waunakee got a splendid performance from senior [player_tooltip player_id='2042435' first='Kaden' last='MacKenzie'] (6-4), who had practiced just once over the past two weeks after sustaining an injury against Onalaska in late December. And finally, Waunakee held Fort Atkinson's starting backcourt of Braeden Hoth (5-11) and Caleb Enger (6-1) to three points while also limiting star senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2492727' first='Brennan' last='Dempsey'] (6-6) to just seven points. The Warriors' 12-0 lead to start the game held up throughout the rest of the contest even though Fort Atkinson battled until the end.<br><strong><br>STAR OF THE GAME</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2042435"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780a4e421ad2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Like his team, MacKenzie plays with a steady pace, a high basketball IQ and with efficiency on the offensive end of the court. He finished with a game-high 20 points and was able to use his strength, length, size and aggressiveness to beat defenders off the dribble and finish at the rim. Defensively, MacKenzie is a versatile performer in that he has the quickness and lateral mobility to guard on the perimeter while also having the size and toughness to defend near the basket. MacKenzie is one of the state's top uncommitted seniors and is currently weighing his options to play either football or basketball at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EMERGING PLAYERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1749696"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780a4e421b31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Selk has improved his game over the last 12 months and has become an offensive force for the Warriors. The son of Waunakee coach Tyler Selk, [player_tooltip player_id='1749696' first='Eli' last='Selk'] was known primarily as a long-distance shooter during his sophomore and junior seasons with the Warriors. As a senior, Selk has added the ability to utilize his 6-foot-4 size and improved physical strength to get into the lane and finish. He had one three-point basket against Fort Atkinson, but he also contributed four driving layups, keeping defenders off balance with his excellent footwork and pivoting near the hoop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1853678"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780a4e421b78"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On any given night, several players not named [player_tooltip player_id='2042435' first='Kaden' last='MacKenzie'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1749696' first='Eli' last='Selk'] can make big contributions to the Waunakee attack. Johnson definitely is one of those players. The physical forward had eight points in the low-scoring win over Fort Atkinson and seemed to make one big hoop after another to stem any momentum Fort Atkinson was attempting to gain. Johnson scored near the basket and also from the outside to help the Warriors garner their ninth win in 11 outings this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1598976"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780a4e421bbd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hintz turned in a very strong showing for Fort Atkinson, drilling four three-point baskets on the way to scoring a team-best 16 points. Hintz's quick release from deep kept opponents off balance, and three of his four high arcing shot swished through the hoop without touching the rim to help Fort Atkinson rally from a 12-0 deficit. In the second half, Hintz also was able to score a couple of baskets from the mid range. The son of Fort Atkinson coach Mike Hintz, [player_tooltip player_id='1598976' first='Lakyn' last='Hintz'] also came up with a couple of steals and deflections for the Blackhawks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2493675"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780a4e421c00"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Geiger is a versatile wing with good size and the ability to get into the lane off the bounce and create for himself and his teammates. He finished with 10 points against Waunakee while also defending at a high level due to his height, length and mobility. Geiger is having a strong senior season as he is averaging 14.0 points and a team-best 6.4 rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE BIG PICTURE</strong><br><br>Waunakee improved to 5-0 in league play and 9-2 overall with its impressive triumph over Fort Atkinson. MacKenzie returned to the Warriors' lineup after missing all but four minutes in the loss to Onalaska and the entire game in the win over Beaver Dam with a very strong showing, which bodes well for the Warriors' future. With MacKenzie back in the fold, coach Tyler Selk's bench becomes even stronger. The Warriors host the #swingfam Showcase on Saturday and will hook up with Big Eight Conference member Madison La Follette. <br><br>Fort Atkinson is 6-5 overall and the Blackhawks sustained their first loss in the league to fall to 4-1, one game behind Waunakee. Coach Mike Hintz and the players on the Fort Atkinson squad will look to avenge the loss to Waunakee when the Warriors travel to Fort Atkinson on Feb. 18. Before then, though, the Blackhawks have plenty of stiff tests to pass, starting next week with home conference games against Milton and Watertown.<br><br><strong>BOXSCORE</strong><br><br><strong>Fort Atkinson (19-29 = 48)</strong><br>Hoth 0, Enger 3, Dempsey 7, Hintz 16, O. Geiger 10, G. Geiger 4, Strasburg 8, Kanters 0. Three-point field goals: Hintz 4, Strasburg 2, Dempsey 1, Enger 1. FT: 0-2. Fouled out: None. Record: 6-5.<br><strong>Waunakee (30-28 = 58)</strong><br>MacKenzie 20, Murray 6, Elickson 3, Selk 11, V. Johnson 8, Hanzel 2, DuCharme 5, Wagner 3, M. Johnson 0. Three-point field goals: DuCharme 1, Elickson 1, Selk 1, Wagner 1. FT: 6-14. Fouled out: None. Record: 9-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->