McNabb’s record night lifts Hawks to win

It was after he drained his second three-pointer that Michael McNabb Jr. knew something was up.

The Grafton High School senior who recently set the career record for boys’ points at the school isn’t known for his long-range prowess, but Dec. 27 was different for a few reasons.

The Black Hawks were facing Onalaska, the No. 5-ranked Division 2 team in the state, according to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association, in the last game on the first day of the three-day Rick Majerus Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook Shootout at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon.

Despite the 9:15 p.m. start time, the game was well attended since the event draws high-level talent from across the state. McNabb is heading to Division 2 Northern Michigan next season, and his teammate Juan Guererro Hernandez Jr. is getting Division 1 looks. Onalaska’s Evan Anderson will play for Division 1 South Dakota next season.

McNabb’s star shone the brightest of the three on this night.

He missed his first three-pointer but made the next two.

“Once I hit that second one, I had that feel. I just felt like I had it going,” he said.

McNabb ended up hitting an event-tying nine three-pointers on the night, going 9-for-13 behind the arc, and scoring 48 points, two short of the event record, in a 75-70 victory.

“It almost felt like I was feeling nothing. Everything was going in. Everything felt so perfect,” McNabb said. “That’s what I work for. Stuff like this is just adding to my motivation to keep working and getting better. It’s just what I love to do.”

McNabb was named player of the game and as the game wore on had the crowd at the edge of its seat every time he fired a long ball.

But it was two other aspects of his game that sealed the Black Hawks’ win.

Grafton held a 42-33 halftime edge behind McNabb’s seven three-pointers and 29 points, but the Hilltoppers battled back to take a second-half lead.

With 1 minute, 44 seconds left, McNabb drained his final bomb on a shot that bounced off the rim straight into the air before ricocheting around falling through to cut Onalaska’s lead to 70-69.

The score stayed the same until 26 seconds left. The Hawks got the ball to McNabb on an out-of-bounds play. The defense collapsed, and he jumped and fired a two-handed overhead pass to an open Tommy Lutz under the basket for a layup.

“I drove to the right just backing down, then saw two or three guys come to defend me, then just saw Tommy out of the corner of my eye, got him and trusted him. Made the game-winning shot right there,” McNabb said.

Anderson was then called for traveling on two straight possessions. McNabb missed the front end of the bonus after getting fouled after the first call, but he sealed the game with his two next plays.

McNabb broke free from a defender and took an inbounds pass for an uncontested layup with 2.8 seconds left. The Hawks were up by three with one desperation attempt left in the Hilltoppers.

McNabb took care of that too.

He picked off a three-fourths-court pass intended for Anderson and stormed in for an emphatic slam dunk at the buzzer.

“Coach told me he was looping around. I came under it, I read it perfect, got the steal and sealed the deal,” he said.

Grafton coach Damon James wasn’t aware McNabb had 48 points until he checked the scorebook minutes after the game.

“Forty-eight. That’s crazy. I didn’t realize that,” he said.

He got in a rhythm. And when you get in a rhythm, the rim opens up, and I think that’s what it was. I didn’t even realize it was 48 and he made his free throws. Good night.”

McNabb shot 16-for-20 from the field and went 7-for-8 on free throws. He added 11 rebounds and five assists.

The game was more unique in that his scoring doesn’t often come from long range.

“I’m normally all the way to the rim. But today that’s what I’ve got to do in some big games — I’ve gotta hit shots — and going to the next level I’m going to have to hit shots and that’s what I came out there and did,” he said.

Anderson had a nearly quiet 30 points on 13-for-20 shooting, along with five rebounds, three steals, two blocks and an assist.

Lutz had 13 points on 6-for-9 shooting and is starting to get into basketball form after helping lead the Hawks to the football championship game.

“He’s been battling shoulder injury. It’s been hard for him to even shoot,” McNabb said. “He’s our toughness. I always say he’s our heart and soul. He’s the one getting off the floor, doing the dirty work.”

“He’s still not there. He’s still fighting through his shoulder, he’s still getting his legs back,” James said.

“I anticipate as we get deeper into January he’ll get back to where he needs to be.”

McNabb tied the 2008 record of three-pointers by Evan Richard of Cuba City. Richard also has the most points in a game in the shootout with 50. McNabb is second with 48.

Performing like that in a tournament format rather than a regular season conference game, McNabb said, was special.

“It’s an amazing atmosphere — playing against some of the best players in the state and with a lot of eyes watching you. It’s really good for our team. It felt good playing in front of a lot of eyes and showing what Grafton really can do,” he said.

James also loved the environment.

“It’s a great venue. Mark (Miller) does an outstanding job putting quality opponents together. It feels without the crowd and the atmosphere like a march game in a sectional against a quality opponent.

The Hawks, 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the North Shore Conference, host Port Washington (0-5 NSC) on Friday, Jan. 5, and league leader Homestead (6-0) on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

CG-Belgium stops losing streak at five

The Cedar Grove-Belgium boys beat Washington Island, 79-51, in the Reedsville High School Tournament last Thursday to stop a five-game skid.

Owen Gulke had 21 points.

“It was a great game for everyone down the bench,” coach Jake Hock said.

The Rockets lost the opener to Omro, 90-78, on Dec. 27.

Carter Schmitz had 28 points.

“It was great to see him hit the shooting level. He has the potential to be consistent going forward,” Hock said.

Griffin Knight has 17 points in his “‘welcome to varsity’ moment for him,” Hock said.

The Rockets split the pair despite missing two starters.

The Rockets, 3-7 overall, host University School of Milwaukee on Thursday, Jan. 4, and Sheboygan Christian on Monday, Jan. 8.