Appleton North boys basketball routs Neenah, captures share of first-ever FVA championship

AppletonSportsPage.com

NEENAH – Matt Rosplochowski scored 16 of his game-high 19 points in the second half as the Appleton North boys basketball team used a huge advantage to surge past Neenah 56-36 in the teams’ final regular season game on Thursday at Neenah High School.

With the victory Appleton North shares its first-ever Fox Valley Association title with Kaukauna, which earned a one-point victory at Oshkosh North on Thursday. The Lightning are now 20-4 overall and finish 16-2 in the FVA.

North led 23-21 at halftime before burying the Rockets (15-9, 12-6 FVA), holding them to just five made baskets and outscoring them 33-15 over the final 18 minutes.

Grant Hardy added 13 points and Nathan Ramus returned from missing the past two games with an injury to chip in 12 points in the Lightning’s victory.

Appleton North is the No. 2 seed in its WIAA Division 1 sectional bracket and will open the playoffs Friday, March 6, at home against the winner of Tuesday’s game between Appleton East (1-23) and Hortonville (6-18).

Lightning 56, Rockets 36
Appleton North   23   33   –   56
Neenah   21   15   –   36
APPLETON NORTH (56): Will Sweeney 3 2-3 10, Matt Rosplochowski 6 2-3 19, Nathan Ramus 5 2-3 12, Grant Hardy 6 0-0 13, Sam Kuehl 1 0-0 2, Ben Zdzieblowski 1 0-0 3. FG: 22. FT: 6-9. 3-pointers: 6 (Rosplochowski 3, Sweeney 1, Hardy 1, Zdzieblowski 1). Fouls: 9. Fouled out: none. Record: 20-4, 16-2 Fox Valley Association.
NEENAH (36): James Weiland 0 0-0 0, Ronn Koeper 0 0-0 0, Chase Nitz 0 0-0 0, Trey White 2 0-0 5, Nick Schultz 3 0-0 8, Cal Juckem 0 0-0 0, Kolton Fleege 2 2-2 6, Xavner Bezares 3 0-0 8, Jackson Rindt 0 0-0 0, Jacob Jungwirth 3 1-2 9. FG: 13. FT: 3-4. 3-pointers: 7 (Schultz 2, Bezares 2, Jungwirth 2, White 1). Fouls: 8. Fouled out: none. Record: 15-9, 12-6 Fox Valley Association.