Grafton boys’ balance blasts NSC foe Slinger

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

Balanced scoring by the Grafton High School boys’ basketball team tipped the scales in their favor at Slinger last Friday.

The Hawks, behind three players with 18 or more points, blew out the Owls, 84-59.

Senior Bennett Hildebrand caught fire from the outside, sinking six of nine three-pointers and scoring 22 points.

Star Michael McNabb Jr. had 24 points on 11-for-14 shooting, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals.

Juan Guererro Hernandez Jr. had 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting, 11 rebounds and five assists.

“Guys contributed in many different ways,” coach Damon James said.

“That’s ultimately what we’re striving for is balance and consistency.”

It was a season-high total for Hildebrand, and James is looking for McNabb and Hernandez to keep elevating.

“We want them to continue to be consistent, but we want them to raise their level of play — get more rebounds, take more charges,” he said.

Matthew Zabel had seven points and Brady Eader had six. Jaiye Famakinwa had five points and five assists.

The Hawks had 23 assists to seven turnovers.

Andrew Beers led the Owls with 19 points. Brett Palm had 14 points.

Grafton, 5-3 in the North Shore Conference and 6-5 overall, were to host Homestead (8-0 NSC) on Tuesday, Jan. 10, play at Hartford (4-4) on Friday, Jan. 13, and host Martin Luther at 5 p.m. Saturday in the second annual Halli Lannan Memorial Basketball Showcase.

The event includes four games. At 1 p.m., Kettle Moraine plays Lake Country Lutheran. At 3 p.m., Milwaukee Hamilton plays Campbellsport. The Grafton boys play at 5 p.m., and at 7 p.m. the Grafton girls host Martin Luther.

Lannan was James’ sister-in-law. She died Dec. 29, 2020, from metastatic breast cancer.

She was born in Racine, joined the Army and was named a Pat Tillman Scholar. She later became a teacher, working for equity and “the most marginalized students,” James said.

He said he started the event last year to honor her memory and promote her work with equity.

A portion of the event’s proceeds go toward a scholarship in Lannan’s name.