Grafton boys drop two games

The Grafton High School boys’ basketball team is working through a few issues as the regular season starts to wind down.

The Black Hawks lost to West Bend East on Feb. 8 at home, 63-52, and lost at Slinger last Friday, 63-53.

Against the Suns, Grafton was up, 27-25, at halftime.

Michael McNabb, Jr. had 20 points, 15 rebounds and four steals.

Bennett Hildebrand had 12 points and Juan Guererro Hernandez, Jr. had 10.

For East, Severin Hilt had 22 points. Calvin Buss had 18 points and 14 rebounds, and Xavier DuBois had 10 points.

At Slinger, the Hawks were up, 28-26, at halftime.

McNabb had 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Chase Norton had nine points, going 3-for-7 on three-pointers. Zach Brace and Guerrero Hernandez each had eight, and Hildebrand had six.

Ashton Beers had 33 points for Slinger. Brandon Donahue had 15 and Jack Murray had nine.

“We’re not finishing for sure and we’re not battling adversity together very well,” coach Damon James said.

“We’re not finishing possessions, especially in the second half – on the defensive side. It all starts defensively.”

Answering opponents’ hot stretches is another issue.

“When teams make runs, we’re not making runs of our own. Those are the main pieces,” James said.

Illnesses have also plagued the team throughout the season.

“It’s always next man up,” James said. “Everybody’s gotta be ready.”

James complimented McNabb’s play.

“He is a competitor so he’s going to try to do everything he can within his will to put us in a position to win,” he said.

The Hawks, 6-10 in the North Shore Conference and 8-13 overall, host Homestead (16-0 NSC) on Friday and end the regular season at Hartford (5-11) on Tuesday, Feb. 24.