Boys’ hoops teams hit rough stretches

By MITCH MAERSCH

Ozaukee Press staff

The Grafton High School boys’ basketball team was without star Michael McNabb Jr. last Friday due to illness, and that’s not all it was missing against league-leading Nicolet.

“We’re not playing with any energy. We’re not playing with any competitive fire. Until that changes, nothing else is going to change,” coach Damon James said of the 63-44 loss, the team’s fourth straight.

The Hawks hung in there for a half, trailing 28-20 at the break, but the Knights started the second half on a 24-6 run to pull away.

Star guard Juan Guererro Hernandez Jr. had nine points to lead Grafton. Tommy Lutz and Jaeden Tiegs each scored eight points, and Jaiye Famakinwa had seven.

Davion Hannah had 16 points and 14 rebounds for Nicolet.

On Jan. 31, Grafton lost, 71-52, at Whitefish Bay. They were down, 29-20, at halftime. McNabb had 23 points. Guererro Hernandez and Famakinwa each had nine.

Jaden Guyton had 34 points for the Blue Dukes.

Grafton, 8-6 in the North Shore Conference, played at West Bend East on Tuesday, Feb. 7, hosts Slinger on Friday, Feb. 10, and Milwaukee Marshall at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

Port Washington lost to Cedarburg, 100-54, on Jan. 31, and to Homestead, 91-73, last Friday.

Against Cedarburg, Kenyon Davis had 17 points, Matt Esselmann had 14 and Josh Arnold had nine.

Logan Zahour had 24 points and Jack Dykstra had 21 for the Bulldogs.

Against Homestead, Esselmann had 21 points on 7-for-11 shooting, Davis had 18 and Arnold and Ryan Burmesch each had 13.

Andrew Hinterstocker led five Highlanders in double figures with 18 points.

Port, 4-10 in the NSC, played at Whitefish Bay on Tuesday, Feb. 7, and plays at Hartford on Friday, Feb. 10.