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Mlsna %*ets zz. as neKoosPortage in Loop OpenerLose Early Lead; Rally In 4th PeriodNekoosa's Papermakers. led by the ever dependable Hank Mlsna with 22 points, successfully opened its 1955-56 South Central Conference campaign as it notched a 52-47 decision over Portage Friday night at the Alexander High School court.Nekoosa did it the hard way as it saw a 13 point lead midway in the second quarter dwindle to a22-21 half time deficit, and then come back in a hard-fought second half to snatch victory from the aroused Portage five, Nekoosa's third in four starts.Tying the sharpshooting Mlsna for 'scoring honors was Portage guard Jim Stabenaw. who collected a dozen of his 22 points in the final quarter in a valiant, but futile, effort to bring his team a Win.Obviously pleased with the game's outcome. Nekoosa coach Carv Bachman said. “We re improving. but I'm still not satisfied with several aspects of the team's play.”Forwards Fail To ScoreOnce again lie pointed to the inability of his starting forwards to measurably dent the scoringcolumn. Nekoosa's starters at that position tallied but 9 points, including only two field goals, while Portage forwards combined for twice that many, or 18 points.Fred Brekkc, Portage coachiand a former Nekoosa coach, scouted the Papermakers in two .previous games, Bachman said, and Brekke also stated that Nekoosa displayed an improved attack. Bachman said this was the first time he had seen Portage in action.I think the boys were lulled into a sense of security with that 13 point lead.” Bachman continued, “but when we came out the second half one point behind, it seemed to give the team something to fight for.”Press Turns Tide He cited the all-court press instituted by Nekoosa at the outset of the second half as the factor which turned the ball game back in the home team’s favor. Portage was particularly unnerved by Ne-koosa's pressing type of play in the crucial fourth quarter.“What pleased me most,” Bachman said, “was that we lost the ball only seven times on violations. bad passes and fumbles, compared to the 19 times we gave up the ball in the game wc lost.”: lie expressed satisfaction with Nekoosa's shooting percentage as the Papermakers connected on 20 of 51 tries from the field for a respectable 39.2 per cent. Portage netted 17 of 55 attempts lor 30.9 per cent.Pleased With KukuikaBachman also said he was pleased with the play of reserve Ken Kukuika, who was inserted into the lineup just before the third quarter ended when Mike Liebenstcin left the game on five personals. The husky sophomore contributed six vital points to the Papermakers final drive.Kukuika is one of several boys on the B team who are pushing members of the varsity for starting berths. Bachman said.Nekoosa started last as it hit on four of the first five shots it took. Mlsna opened with a tnde-away push shot from the side, his specialty for the night. Gruber sunk another side shot on a fast break for 4-0 lead.but swept Nekoosa back to the q showers. D€The third quarter was played on;even terms with the lead changing Hlt;hands eight times before Nekoosa pulled away to a 34-33 lead as the, ^stanza ended. '.Significant in the third quarter its se was that the big Portage center, day : Bud York, scored his only four Jing points of the game. Perhaps a hair ' dataller than Nekoosa's Mlsna, lie was kept well contained by the ;fe!isc more agile Nekoosa center. York|spilc led his team with 21 points against |to th Mansion last week. Iplaylt;The final eight minutes of play'scorj j saw Nekoosa hitting on 7 of the 11 Ea 1 shots it took while Portage made,necL( but 5 of 13, with all five coniing omwEh tosses by the amazing Stabenaw. jBoulPortage Has Last Lead | polnlMlsna made it 36-33 with a re-; A1as tl vantbound shot, but four points by Stabenaw made it 37-36 Portage.This was the last time Portage!had held the lead as Kukuika scored Rhir four points for a three-point edge, saw Free throws by Austin and Im- row( ray narrowed this to one, but three jj, quick baskets, two by Gruber and eack one by Mlsna, gave Nekoosa what qUaiproved to be an insurmountable;theIn merseven-point lead Satbcnaw made four more bas-kels but these were nullified byjBou baskets by Kukuika and Gruber|Rai( and two free throws by Ruder. j they Nekoosa’s B team was not quite that as fortunate as it sustained a 31-27 garr loss to the Portage Bees. Portage! Jc jumped to a 9-2 first quarter lead;poir which it never relinquished. Again l ter, it was Don Perrote, freshman cen-jeac ter, who led Nekoosa in scoring ;r»p with 11 points, which was equalled J FeYiby Chappell of Portage.Nekoosa (52)Portage (47)Fg FI Pf Austin, f 2 7 1tmray, f 3 1 5Po'plun, #000 York, c 2 0 4S'b'aw, g 10 2 3Hard), g 0 3 5D'mortd, g O Q 0La't A'd' RouFg Ft Pf j'stt Ruder, f 2 3 3 Tun L'b'stein, # 0 2 5 TecvK'kulka, # 2 2 2 ,‘beMlsna, c 9 4 1 1 atnGruber, g 4 1 2St'nert, g 3 0 5:R_Zellmer, g 0 0 0 ilt;nuTotals 17 13 IBPortage -........NekoosaTotals 20 12 IB | T, 4 22 33 4;iWjs........... — ’3 21 34 Sl:RhllFree throws missed: Portage 12 (lm-i ray 5, Stabenaw 3, Austin 2, Mardt,| York), Nekoosa 14 (Gruber 5, Mlsna-juj, 4. Kukuika 2, Steinert 2, Ruder). Of- IY1lt; ficials: Paul and Baehm, Tomah. —Fnt li f-i• II *1I ITV.
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Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, US
Wed, Nov 23, 1955
Page 31
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USA 19 Feb 2019
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