Tigers boys basketball 4-0 after sweeping BRC road games

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Three straight road games against Big Rivers Conference opponents proved to be a good test for the New Richmond boys basketball team.

And the Tigers passed the test with straight A grades.

The Tigers concluded the three-game road streak on Friday with a 54-29 win at Menomonie. That came three nights after the Tigers earned a 56-44 win at Hudson. The BRC road trip started with a 38-26 win at Eau Claire Memorial on Nov. 27.

This Saturday the Tigers will face a team that is considered one of the favorites in the BRC. Rice Lake will visit New Richmond at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Rice Lake, led by the Ellenson brothers, is out to a 2-0 start this season.

The Rice Lake game will be a sturdy test for the Tiger defense, which has been golden so far this season. The defense was so dominant at Menomonie on Friday that it took a long three-point shot at the halftime buzzer to pull Menomonie within 29-10 at the break.

Tiger coach Rick Montreal said the players take great pride in being a nightmarish defense for opponents.

“It’s a tribute to how hard the kids work at that end of the court. They really sell out defensively,” Montreal said.

While the defense has been superb, the offense has been steadily finding its way. Riley Kannel, Dalton Sabby and Darren O’Flanagan all scored in double figures at Menomonie. Kannel has been the leading scorer in all four games this season.

“Riley’s got four weapons,” Montreal said. “He can shoot the three. He’s developed his mid-range game. He creates well with the dribble and I think he can score in the post.”

Kannel and Cody Taubman shared the rebound lead against Menomonie with six each. Kannel and O’Flanagan had three assists. O’Flanagan went without a turnover for the second time in the team’s four games.

Tuesday’s game at Hudson was expected to be a close battle, but the Tiger defense never let that happen. The Tigers limited Hudson to 13 points in the first half, building a 25-13 halftime lead. The defense never let Hudson cut deeply into the lead in the second half.

Four Tigers scored in double figures at Hudson. Kannel led the Tigers with 18 points and Justice Harvieux, O’Flanagan and Sabby each produced 10 points.

Kannel led the team with eight rebounds and four assists. Harvieux and Taubman each accounted for five rebounds and Taubman had four assists.

Tags: boys basketball, sports, tigers, prep