Big East still can’t decipher Peiffer

Cedar Grove-Belgium High School senior guard Sam Peiffer sliced, diced and dashed his way through and around defenses to the tune of 21.3 points per game this season, and Big East Conference coaches took notice.

Peiffer was named to the league’s first team for the second straight season after being the Big East’s third-leading scorer. He eclipsed 1,000 career points, finishing with 1,180.

That puts Peiffer eighth on the school’s all-time scoring list, a notch behind guard Reid Hilbelink, a 2017 grad who scored 1,256 points and, like Peiffer, also starred in football at wide receiver and defensive back.

Peiffer went 157-for-316 shooting (49.7%) and 27-for-83 on three-pointers (32.5%). He was second on the team with 5.1 rebounds per game, first in assists at 2.3 per game and tied for first in steals with 1.5 per game.

Peiffer often used his coordination and quickness to weave through double teams and score inside despite drawing a crowd near the rim.

“He’s really smooth with the ball, a very good ball handler, and can get to the hole and finish,” coach Derek Wimmer said.

Peiffer also provided leadership, either pumping the team up or directing teammates to do what they were supposed to be doing, Wimmer said.

Fellow senior Logan Arrowood, Peiffer’s quarterback in fall and co-star on the hardwood during winter, was selected to the second team one year after earning honorable mention recognition.

Arrowood was second on the team in scoring, averaging 16.9 points per game, good for fifth in the Big East. He shot 146-for-255 (57.3%) and led the team in rebounds at 7.7 per game — sixth in the Big East. He had 1.9 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game.

At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, Arrowood was “about our only inside presence for most of the year,” Wimmer said.

Arrowood did the dirty work inside and often drew the assignment to guard opponents’ best offensive players.

“He always stood up to that challenge. He always told me before the game that he wanted to guard those guys,” Wimmer said.

Beyond that, Arrowood “was our energy guy who brought it every game,” he said.

Peiffer and Arrowood led the Rockets to a 9-10 record in the Big East South Division, good for fourth place of eight teams, and were 11-13 overall. They beat rival Random Lake, 77-47, at home in the playoffs before a second-half comeback fell short at Winnebago Lutheran in a 76-67 loss.

Ozaukee had two players earn honorable mention recognition. Senior center Braxton Gahan was a rebounding machine who led the league in that category, and sophomore guard Bret Hamm was a slick scorer who led the team in points.

Gahan averaged 10.7 rebounds per game and twice had 22. His four years of board work moved him into second place all time with 649, behind 1995 grad Rik Bertin’s 699.

Coach Bob Domach said he loved Gahan’s effort and approach.

“Braxton is a great kid. He is hard-working and has a great attitude,” he said. “He is a tough kid that was a beast rebounding for us.”

Hamm averaged 12.8 points per game, 13th in the Big East. His 1.8 steals per game was sixth in the league. He also grabbed 5.3 rebounds per game and had 1.8 assists per game.

Domach looks forward to having Hamm back for two more years.

“Bret is improving every day and he has a very bright future. He is a threat to score inside and out,” he said.

The Warriors finished the season playing their best basketball, Domach said.

They went 6-13 in the Big East, good for sixth place, and 11-15 overall. They won a road playoff game, 63-60, over Living Word Lutheran before ending their season at Howards Grove, 82-65.