Photo Credit - Reedsville Athletic Association
The Reedsville boys’ basketball team looks to get a step closer tonight to achieving its ultimate goal.
Head Coach Ron Prochnow spoke with us about playing in March, saying, “It doesn’t happen all the time, and we’re really excited to be playing at this time of year”.
The one and only time this program made it to State was 1946, exactly 80 years ago, and won the whole thing.
Can history repeat itself?
They sure hope so, but first things first, and that is defeating Big East North Division rival Elkhart Lake/Glenbeulah in a WIAA Division Five sectional semifinal tonight in Menasha.
The Panthers won the Big East North with a record of 10 and 2 and come into tonight’s game with a record of 24 and 3, winners of six straight games.
Prochnow tells SeehaferNews.com the keys to their success.
“We’ve been solid defensively and are well connected offensively, succeeding against a variety of defensive looks,” he explained. “But the key has been shooting the ball at a high percentage consistently to keep pressure on the opposition.”
The Panthers are a senior-dominated team led by Big East North player of the year Ben Prochnow, along with Arden Strenn and Jack Schwann, who all average double figures in scoring.
Defensively is where they really shine, allowing an average of just under 35 points per game in the postseason.
The Panthers also don’t beat themselves, committing just seven turnovers and 12.5 fouls per contest.
Elkhart Lake/Glenbeulah sports a record of 18-9 and has won five straight games.
They are led by sophomore Brayden Smith at 22 points per game and Senior Ethan Fromm at nearly 21 points per contest.
Prochnow says he has a tremendous amount of respect for the Resorters.
“They shoot 71 percent from the free throw line, 39 percent from the 3-point line and 50 percent from the floor overall, ranking them amongst the best in the state regardless of division,” he noted. “We’ll need to be on our toes defensively and try to take advantage of their short bench and wear them down if we can.”
Reedsville won both regular-season meetings with the Resorters, which Prochnow says means nothing in a one-game scenario.
“Everyone in Panther Nation would love to go to Madison, but we need to dial it down a bit and concentrate on winning the game,” he said.
The winner advances to play either Tigerton or Wabeno/Laona in a WIAA Division Five Sectional final Saturday in Oconto Falls.
