Winter Takes Down Conference Leader, New Auburn

Winter Warriors beat New Auburn TrojansPhoto byExplore Southern Sawyer County

Winter WI - The Winter Warriors traveled across three counties for a conference game with high stakes on the line. The Winter Warriors are 7-3 entering the game in Lakeland East conference action, meanwhile, New Auburn is sitting at 9-2. One of those two losses have come by the hands of the Warriors in Winter Wisconsin on December 21, 2024. New Auburn enters the game with a 13-3 overall record on the 2023-2024 season, and are having quite a successful season. Winter, on the other hand enters the game on a 6-game winning streak.

Winter jumped out to an 18-12 lead at the 11:13 mark on a beautiful pass into the paint where Gunnar Greuel finished with a left handed layup. New Auburn came back on a 6-0 run and tied the game at 18-18 with 9:18 remaining in the first half. Winter kept applying the pressure, and jumped back up 29-20, and led by as much as 12 points in the first half. The intermission included Winter leading 45-36.

The second half was a battle, as New Auburn stormed back to cut the deficit to just 1 point with a drive by Christ Elmhorst who took the bucket and the contact for an And-One finish. Elmhorst missed the free throw to bring the game to 64-63. The game was 69-67 in a back and forth contest, while Adam Bednorski dropped one-dribble side step contested 3-pointer to give Winter the 72-67 lead. Three throws down the stretch by Malte Colliander, Gunnar Greuel, and Cole Petit sealed the deal for the Winter Warriors.

Final Score
85 Winter
82 New Auburn

The Winter Warriors were beat up in the paint as New Auburn scored 60 points in the paint, and outrebounded Winter 46-38, with 20 of those coming as offensive rebounds. The Warriors forced 21 turnovers, and securing 12 team steals. The biggest differentiator in the game was Winter getting to the free throw line by attacking the rim, and securing the ball late in the game, forcing fouls to stop the clock. Winter went 26-40 from the free throw line, while New Auburn shot just 12-30 from the free throw line. Winter also connected on 7-18 from long distance.

Gunnar Greuel led Winter with 25 points, 17 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 3 blocks, but retired late in the game from foul trouble. Curtis Thompson Jr chipped in 19 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal, but also retired early with 14 minutes left in the second half. Adam Bednorski came up big going 5-6 from downtown and adding 18 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, but also fouled out late in the second half. Malte Colliander did a little bit of everything, once again. Malte finished with 11 points, adding 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 2 blocks. but survived with 4 fouls. Carter Petit added 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists. Cole Petit came up big off the bench with stellar defense, great effort, and some big free throws. Cole Petit finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

The Winter Warriors Boys Basketball team is now 12-6 on the season averaging 79.3 points per game, which is good for 1st among Division 5 teams, and 6th overall across all divisions. Winter also ranks 1st in rebounds per game with 42.8 rpg, 1st in assists with 19.8 apg, 1st in steals with 16.6 spg, and 2nd in blocks with 5.2 bpg. Adam Bednorski continues to widen the gap with most 3-pointers made while sitting at 80 made 3-point shots. Gunnar Greuel continues to lead the state in rebound with 21.3 rebounds per game, and is 117 total rebounds ahead of the next athlete.

Winter steps into a 2nd place tie with Birchwood in a run for the Lakeland East Conference title. Birchwood still has Winter and New Auburn on the schedule, and the results will decide who takes the conference title for the 2023-2024 season. The last time the Winter Warriors Boys basketball team had won conference was 1996, which is a 28 year drought. The Warriors, with this win over New Auburn, had positioned themselves for an opportunity take home the conference title.

Winter is in Lakeland East action on Monday at home as they host Prairie Farm. Prairie Farm had just taken an "L" on the road against Cornell. Winter also hosts Flambeau at home, Winter took the win in Flambeau's house with a buzzer beat shot by Kingston Frey for the 73-72 win.