CG-Belgium boys top rivals during victory quartet

Two double-digit victories over rivals started a recent four-game winning streak for the Cedar Grove-Belgium High School boys’ basketball team.

“Our team has really bought in on our focus that we win with defense, and the guys honestly have fun playing defense,’ coach Jake Hock said.

“Everyone is doing their role and we are really playing as a whole team right now, all 12 of our guys.”

The Rockets began the streak with a hot start at Ozaukee on Dec. 10 in a 72-62 win.

Junior guard Owen Gulke scored 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting, including 3-for-6 on three-pointers, and he had 10 rebounds and four assists.

Junior Carter Schmitz scored 23 points, going 4-for-6 on three-pointers and 7-for-9 on free throws, and had five rebounds and three assists.

“Owen Gulke has been scoring over 20 points a game and just continues to be a real special player,” Hock said. “Carter Schmitz has really developed into a new role and been a large key for us.”

The Warriors’ Chase Mills led Ozaukee with a game-high 27 points. Brice Schueller scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Otto Utecht grabbed nine rebounds.

“We competed well and just made too many mistakes when we needed to make a play.” Ozaukeee coach Bob Domach said.

“Mason Schroeder gave us some momentum taking two charges on defense. We have to clean up our turnover issues.  We have way too many and we won’t win many games with our turnover issues.”

The Rockets took a 37-22 lead by halftime. The Warriors cut the deficit to less than 10 in the second half but couldn’t get any closer.

Last Friday against Random Lake, the Rockets took a 52-16 halftime lead on the way to a 78-34 win.

Schmitz had 25 points on 11-for-16 shooting, making three of six three-pointers. Gulke had 22 points, going 4-for-7 on three-pointers. Brody Halleman had six points and eight assists. Thomas Wiesner had seven rebounds.

“Thomas Wiesner also has continued to thrive in his role and has become arguably our best defender,” Hock said.

“Brody Halleman has done a great job at controlling the game from a point guard perspective.”

Halleman also leads the team in rebounds despite standing just 5 feet, 11 inches tall.

On Saturday, the Rockets won at Valders, 69-56.

Gulke scored 27 points on 12-for-20 shooting and had six rebounds. Schmitz had 14 points and seven rebounds. Cade Borden had 14 points and five rebounds. Halleman had four points and seven rebounds.

The Rockets on Monday beat visiting Kewaskum, 71-52. Gulke had 21 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. Borden and Schmitz each had 17 points and Borden had 11 rebounds. Halleman had 13 points.

“Four tough games in seven days including a stretch of three in four days and we responded well to that schedule situation,” Hock said. “We have a lot of growth to keep building toward but we’re excited about the start we’ve had.”

The Rockets, 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big East, play at Manitowoc Lutheran on Thursday, Dec. 19.

Last Friday, the Warriors traveled to Oostburg where they were manhandled, 67-34, in another Big East Conference contest.

“It was a good old-fashioned butt kicking,” Domach said.

“They outplayed us in every way possible. We had no answer for Cade Dirkse who is the best player in the conference. In one week we went from playing our best game of the young season to playing our worst.”

Dirkse had 31 points, going 5-for-7 on three-pointers, and had seven assists. Jamison Zavatchin had 23 points.

The Warriors were led by Otto Utecht with 11 points and nine rebounds. Brayden Lorance-Eischen scored 11 points.

Ozaukee, still seeking its first win, hosted Valders on Monday.

The Warriors play at Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah at 5:50 p.m. Thursday. The girls’ teams play afterward.

The boys host St. Francis on Friday, Dec. 20.