APPLETON NORTH TOPS SPASH BOYS BASKETBALL IN OVERTIME TO WIN D-1 REGIONAL SEMIFINAL

Zaleski Sports

APPLETON – Max Nelson scored eight of his game-high 19 points in overtime to lift the No. 8 seed Appleton North past No. 9 Stevens Point 61-52 in a WIAA Division 1 boys basketball regional semifinal Friday night at North High School.

Stevens Point raced out to a 31-19 lead at halftime as the Panthers made five 3-pointers in the first half.

North mounted a comeback in the second half as Brock Donaldson scored 10 points and Nelson added seven as the Lightning erased the Panthers’ lead and sent the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Nelson made the only two field goals for North and added four free throws as the Lightning made 9 of 10 at the line to pull away with a 13-4 advantage.

Appleton North (16-9) will play a Division 1 regional final at No. 1 seed Neenah (24-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Nate Streveler had 15 points and James Jacobs scored 14 for Stevens Point, which finishes the season with a 14-11 record.

Lightning 61, Panthers 52 (OT)

Stevens Point 31 17 4 - 52

Appleton North 19 29 13 - 61

STEVENS POINT (52): James Jacobs 5 3-3 14, Damian Cejka 1 0-1 3, Grant Chandonais 0 0-0 0, Baraka Makalin 4 1-3 9, Parker Vanderloop 1 0-0 3, Nate Streveler 5 3-4 15, Danny Zdroik 3 0-0 8. FG: 19. FT: 7-11. 3-pointers: 7 (Streveler 2, Zdroik 2, Cejka 1, Jacobs 1, Vanderloop 1). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: Cejka. Record: 14-11.

APPLETON NORTH (61): Trent Mullen 2 2-2 6, Jack Budiac 0 3-4 3, Brock Donaldson 4 3-6 12, Josh Gilbert 3 2-3 8, Garrett Staszak 2 2-2 7, Max Nelson 6 6-6 19, Caleb Monroe 3 0-0 6. FG: 20. FT: 18-25. 3-pointers: 3 (Davidson 1, Staszak 1, Nelson 1). Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Gilbert. Record: 16-9.