Phillips tops Abbotsford at home

The Phillips High School Varsity Boys Basketball picked up a needed win to move into a second place tie with Prentiec in the Marawood North Conference.

The Loggers defeated visiting Abbotsford 86-63 on Feb. 16. The win puts them at 6-8 in the conference and 12-10 overall. Phillips will conclude its season with conference games at second place Prentice on Feb. 19, and at first place Rib Lake on Feb. 22.

The Loggers jumped ahead early with three early 3-point shots and held onto the lead against an aggressive Abbotsford offense to make it 48-33 at the half. The Loggers wore down the Abbotsford defense in the second half.

The Phillips scorers were led by senior guard Drew Hauschild and junior guard Lane Abraham, each with 17 points, followed by junior forward Collin Kleinschmidt and sophomore guard JJ Heikkinen with 14 each, senior forward Jack Kulwicki with 10, junior forward Shay Denzine with 8, and junior guard Brayden Revak with 6.

The Abbotsford scorers were led by senior forward Blake Bargender with 13 points, followed by sophomore forward Irvin Aguilera-Lozoya with 12, junior forward AJ Brodhage with 11, sophomore guard Koren Decker with 8, junior forward Grayson Totzke with 7, senior guard JV Castillo with 5, senior forward Carlos Lara with 4, sophomore forward Jack Sheahan with 2, and senior forward Evan Reis with 1.

Abbotsford falls to 2-12 in the conference and 3-19 overall. The team hosts Athens on Feb. 19 and travels to Chequamegon to close the regular season on Feb. 22.