Sports Wrapups: Jan. 26

Whitefish Bay/Nicolet boys basketball

Keeping their pulse on the North Shore Conference race, the Blue Dukes gradually pulled away from Nicolet, 72-59, last Friday.

"Again, it came down to defense and getting stops," said Blue Dukes coach Kevin Lazovik. "The kids did a good job of getting on the boards. We were then able to get some easy transition buckets and go from there."

The win kept the Blue Dukes in third in the North Shore at 5-2 (9-4 overall). They will begin the second half of the NSC season at unbeaten Germantown (7-0, 15-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

"We're practicing five on seven and with badminton racquets in our hands to try and simulate their speed," said Lazovik.

Bay was smoked by Germantown in the first league contest of the season Dec. 9.

Nicolet (0-7, 2-11) lost for the 11th straight time and will host Homestead (6-1, 12-2) on Friday.

Bay led by as many as 10 points in the first half against the Knights, but it was only five at halftime, 34-29. The Blue Dukes stretched the advantage to 53-44 at the end of three quarters. Free throw shooting (17 of 20) helped Bay hold the lead.

Joe Sherburne had another good game for Bay with 22 points while Kelin Johnson had 10, Connor Weas nine and Grant Menard eight. Nicolet was led by Eugene Bonner with 17, while Greg Pigg had 13 and Corey Smith and Tyler Miller contributed 10 apiece.

"It was a tough week with exams, but the kids adapted well," said Lazovik. "They've (the Knights) had a lot of injuries, but they played hard."

Nicolet wrestling

Jon McKay remained relentless at 220 pounds for the Knights, as he looked impressive in winning the championship at the Sheboygan Raider Invitational last Saturday.

McKay (30-1 overall) went 4-0 on the day, including a technical fall over an Oshkosh West opponent, a decision over a Riverside foe and a pin of a Plymouth wrestler in the final.

He was Nicolet's only individual champion as the Knights finished 13th in the 18-team tournament, scoring 62 points. Two Rivers scored 215.5 points for the win.

Wilhelm Fehlhaber took fourth at 160, going 2-2 on the day (18-9 overall). He lost his last two matches in tough fashion by identical 7-5 scores. Meanwhile, Jordan Fischer (15-9) took a sixth at 145 for the Knights, going 3-2 on the day, while Keondre Walton-Cooper was seventh at 182 (3-2, 19-10).

The Knights took on Germantown on Tuesday and visit Whitefish Bay on Thursday in their final two North Shore dual meets of the season this week.

Whitefish Bay girls gymnastics

Still working through injuries, the Blue Dukes battled their way to a respectable fourth in the Arrowhead Invitational.

"There were good things that happened this weekend," said Blue Dukes coach Mary Liniewski. "There are good things happening every meet. We got Kelly Danek back on the bars and Sofie (Yang) is making progress (with her foot injury). We still have a long ways to go as a team. Because of the injuries, we're still not hitting our stride yet, but we're hoping for a late-season surge."

Bay turned in a score of 136.7 while the defending state champion Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall co-op won with 144.0.

Maggie Anderson had the best individual finish, with a third in floor exercise with a 9.3 score while Tory Patek (8.75) and Lucy Anzia (8.25) both turned in personal bests on the bars while Tessa Hansen, in her first meet of the season, turned in an 8.7 mark on vault.

"We also had four sticks on (balance) beam, which is always good to see," said Liniewski.

The schedule is quiet for a couple of weeks now and Liniewski is grateful for that, as at the end of the season, the Blue Dukes will wind up hosting the Bradley Invitational, the North Shore/Greater Metro Conference meet and the WIAA sectional, all in succession.

Homestead girls gymnastics

The Highlanders got a first from Cori Sanduski on the balance beam with a 9.025 score to lead them to a sixth-place showing in the Arrowhead Invitational last Saturday.

Homestead scored 129.575 for its spot as defending state champion Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall won with 144.0.

The Highlanders hosted Menomonee Falls/Germantown on Wednesday.

Nicolet girls gymnastics

The Knights turned in a good effort in beating Brookfield, 128.425-112.3 in a North/Greater Metro Conference dual meet Jan. 19.

Nicolet won all the events including Valerie Whittle in the all-around, as well as the uneven bars. Jessica Kloehn took the floor exercise and vault while Rachel Rabenn won the balance beam. Whittle was also second on beam and third on floor, while Rabenn was second in the all-around and on bars.

Kim Charles was second on vault.

Riverside/Shorewood wrestling

2011 WIAA State Meet qualifier Antoine Davis of Shorewood was sixth in the 170-pound weight class to help the Tigers take 10th in the Sheboygan Raider Invitational last Saturday.

Davis, who qualified for state at 160 pounds last season and who was a running back/defensive back for the Shorewood football team, improved to 24-11 on the season as he went 3-2 for his spot in the 18-team Division 1 section of the tournament.

He had three pins on the day and a loss to a Stevens Point competitor before his day ended with a tough 8-7 defeat to a Little Chute opponent.