Photo Credit - Reedsville Athletic Association
Reedsville Head Boys Basketball Coach Ron Prochnow knows how special and blessed the Panthers are to be among the 40 teams still playing on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers travel to Oconto Falls to battle undefeated Tigerton in a WIAA Division Five sectional final, with the winner heading to the state tournament next week in Madison. He tells Seehafer News.com—
“When you get an opportunity to play, you never take it for granted. The seniors understand the sense of urgency, and they are enjoying every moment of it.”
Reedsville came from 10 down in the first half Thursday night to defeat Elkhart Lake/ Glenbeulah 69 to 49, while Tigerton eliminated Wabeno/ Laona 54 to 41 to advance to the sectional final.
Reedsville, who’s 25 and 3 and the Big East North Division champions, are led by a talented trio of seniors in Ben Prochnow, Arden Strenn and Jack Schwann while 6-foot-ten-inch junior center James Brady, averaging nearly 25 points and 12 rebounds a game and senior guard Sam Anheuser at just shy of 16 points per contest lead the unbeaten Tigers who captured The Central Wisconsin Conference North Division Title.
Prochnow says that they are aware of the threat both players pose and have a game plan ready without changing their team identity.
“I want to play fast, and they (Tigerton) play fast as well. But I feel we do it better and that’s what we are relying on to help us win this game.”
The Panthers’ bench boss discusses other factors that he feels will determine the winner.
“Does someone get in foul trouble, and who is that guy? Second, who takes better care of the ball, and will turnovers lead to easy transition points?”
Reedsville’s one and only trip to Madison was eighty years ago, when they won it all in 1946.
They missed out on heading to the big dance in 2024, losing in the sectional final to Almond-Bancroft. (Ron) Prochnow and the Panthers do not want history to repeat itself.
“We’ve focused on several things on what this game is all about. Two years ago, we came up short and watched the other team (Almond-Bancroft) celebrate and cut down the nets. We don’t want to be the team watching this time around.”
Coverage on 980 WCUB and cubradio.com begins at 12:45 p.m.
