Game Report: Bonduel 73, Wittenberg-Birnamwood 55

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEYS TO THE GAME</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2391085' first='Ryan' last='Westrich'] got going early for Bonduel and the muscular 6-foot-6 post player helped the visiting Bears race out to a 22-19 lead about 11 minutes into Thursday's Central Wisconsin East Conference contest. Westrich scored 10 points during that stretch and then the NCAA Division I football prospect added eight more points before half as Bonduel led Wittenberg-Birnamwood 36-29 at intermission. The Chargers cut their deficit to 50-44 behind some strong play from senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2386279' first='Jett' last='Rogowski'] and from senior sharpshooter Hayden Miller. But undefeated Bonduel followed with a 10-0 run, fueled in large part by three-point baskets from Westrich and [player_tooltip player_id='2387960' first='Quinn' last='Wesenberg'], to take control of the game at 60-44. Westrich was a problem for Wittenberg-Birnamwood the entire contest as the big junior finished with 28 points. His rebounding and shot blocking were also keys for Bonduel as coach Duke Copp's squad improved to 20-0. Wesenberg, a promising wing prospect, added 21 points while senior [player_tooltip player_id='2542523' first='Race' last='Anvelink'] added 14 while also playing strong man-to-man defense on Rogowski, who led W-B with 20 points. <strong><br><br>STAR OF THE GAME</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2391085"],"_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-67aed234c91f6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There's not much fancy about the way Westrich plays basketball. He runs from one rim to other, and positively affects the game with his scoring, rebounding and shot blocking. And his impressive size and soft shooting touch allow him to consistently finish near the basket. He had 28 points for Bonduel and was a go-to player on the offensive end throughout the contest. Westrich got most of his points in front of the basket, but he also did step outside and drop a triple. Westrich will play football at the next level and he owns several NCAA Division I offers, including Texas Tech, but he's also an extremely effective basketball player as he proved time and again during the Bears' convincing win over Wittenberg-Birnamwood.</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":["2387960"],"_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-67aed234c924e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An emerging player in the state's 2027 class, Wesenberg is a player who can hurt you with his slashing ability, his leaping ability and his perimeter shooting stroke. He has a steady pace to his game as he gathers the ball, assesses the defense as he squares up to the hoop, and then either lets go with a jump shot or gets into the lane off the dribble. Wesenberg had 21 points and three triples against the Chargers, and his strong play on both ends have been instrumental to the success of the Bonduel squad this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2542523"],"_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-67aed234c9295"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anvelink chased [player_tooltip player_id='2386279' first='Jett' last='Rogowski'] of Wittenberg-Birnamwood all over the court, and his man-to-man defense was outstanding even though the talented Rogowski did score 20 points. In addition to shadowing Rogowski, Anvelink also scored 14 points and dropped two big three-point baskets in the first half to help Bonduel establish control of the contest. In addition to his strong defense and leadership, Anvelink's shooting and ability to move the ball on offense at a rapid pace are big assets for Bonduel. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2386279"],"_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-67aed234c92d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rogowski has an appropriate first name because he zips and zooms around the court on both offense and defense. His endless energy keeps defenses on the move when he has the ball in his hands. Rogowski can probe defenses off the bounce and either score in the lane or kick out to an open teammate. Rogowski also can make shots from outside the arc and from the foul line. The son of W-B coach Garrett Rogowski, [player_tooltip player_id='2386279' first='Jett' last='Rogowski'] is one of the top backcourt players in the league and in northeastern Wisconsin. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE BIG PICTURE</strong><br><br>Bonduel clinched at least a share of the Central Wisconsin East Conference championship and improved to 12-0 in the league and 20-0 overall with the win over second-place Wittenberg-Birnamwood. The Bears can win the title outright for the second year in a row with a league win over Amherst or Weyauwega-Fremont in the weeks ahead. Bonduel also has an intriguing non-league outing with Roncalli next Wednesday. Bonduel and Roncalli rank among the premier WIAA Division 4 teams in the state.<br><br>Wittenberg-Birnamwood needs lots of help to get a share of the league title. First, the Chargers need to beat both Iola-Scandinavia and Amherst while also needing Bonduel to lose to both Amherst and Weyauwega-Fremont. So the odds are long for a league crown for the Chargers. Still, with a 16-4 record and four regular-season games left, Wittenberg-Birnamwood has plenty to play for as it prepares for the upcoming WIAA playoffs.<strong><br><br>BOXSCORE<br><br>Bonduel (36-37 = 73)</strong><br>Johnson 6, Westrich 28, Moesch 2, Wesenberg 21, Anvelink 14, Roberts 2, Uelmen 0. Three-point field goals: Wesenberg 3, Anvelink 2, Westrich 1. FT: 5-9. Fouled out: Roberts. Record: 20-0.<br><strong>Wittenberg-Birnamwood (29-26 = 55)</strong><br>Rogowski 20, Clark 5, Fraaza 9, Hay. Miller 13, Barke 8, Hud. Miller 0, Nowinsky 0. Three-point field goals: Hay. Miller 3, Rogowski 2, Fraaza 2. FT: 8-14. Fouled out: None. Record: 16-4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->