Appleton North boys basketball pulls out gritty win at Oshkosh West

AppletonSportsPage.com

OSHKOSH – Appleton North made eight of nine free throws in the second half to hold off Oshkosh West 65-61 in a Fox Valley Association boys basketball game Friday night at Oshkosh West High School.

Playing without leading scorer Grant Hardy, who averaged 23 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the Lightning’s first two games, Appleton North came back from a three-point halftime deficit to pull out the win.

“Gritty team win with tremendous stretches from Alexander Radtke and Ethan Arft defensively,” North coach Chris Kellett said.

Will Sweeney had 20 points, Nathan Ramus added 19 and Matthew Rosplochowski chipped in 17 for Appleton North, which remains unbeaten at 3-0 overall and 2-0 in the Fox Valley Association.

Malakai Herlihy kept Oshkosh West (1-2, 1-1 FVA) in it until the end, pouring in a game-high 29 points, which included six 3-pointers.

Appleton North will host Kaukauna (3-0 overall and FVA) in a battle of undefeated teams on Tuesday.

Lightning 65, Wildcats 61
Appleton North   31   34   –   65
Oshkosh West   34   27   –   61
APPLETON NORTH (65): Will Sweeney 6 7-9 20, Matthew Rosplochowski 4 7-8 17, Nathan Ramus 8 3-4 19, Sam Kuehl 1 0-0 2, Ethan Arft 1 0-0 2, Alexander Radtke 2 0-0 5. FG: 22. FT: 17-21. 3-pointers: 4 (Rosplochowski 2, Sweeney 1, Radtke 1). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: none. Record: 3-0, 2-0 Fox Valley Association.
OSHKOSH WEST (61): Kole Stauffacher 3 0-0 9, Drew Abitz 3 0-0 8, Malakai Herlihy 9 5-5 29, Billy Berg 0 3-4 3, Brayden Kufel 3 0-0 7, Joey Ware 2 1-2 5. FG: 20. FT: 9-11. 3-pointers: 12 (Herlihy 6, Stauffacher 3, Abitz 2, Kufel 1). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Abitz, Berg. Record: 1-2, 1-1 Fox Valley Association.