ATHENS BOYS BASKETBALL TOPS MCDONELL IN DIVISION 5 REGIONAL FINAL

Zaleski Sports

ATHENS – The Athens boys basketball team is moving on to sectionals after a 45-34 win over Chippewa Falls McDonell in a WIAA Division 5 regional final Saturday night at Athens High School.

The No. 4 seed Athens (21-6) will take on No. 2 seed Turtle Lake (21-6) in a D-5 sectional semifinal Thursday at Eau Claire North High School, with the winner moving into a sectional final Saturday at Amery.

Athens trailed 15-11 after a sluggish first half, but outscored the Macks by 15 in the second to pull out the victory.

Eddie Mittermeyer had 17 points to lead McDonell (13-14).

Cooper Diedrich led Athens with 26 points and 10 rebounds as he went 7-for-8 at the free throw line and 8-for-15 from the field, including three 3-pointers. The rest of the Bluejays made just 4 of 27 shot attempts as they shot 29 percent overall.

Bluejays 45, Macks 34

McDonell 15 19 - 34

Athens 11 34 - 45

MCDONELL (34): Aidan Misfeldt 3, Eddie Mittermeyer 17, Canan Huss 10, Miles Flanagan 2, Joe Janus 2. Record: 13-14.

ATHENS (45): Connor Sheahan 0-5 1-2 1, Cooper Diedrich 8-15 7-8 26, Nathan Wolf 0-0 0-0 0, Evan Guralski 1-4 2-2 5, Andy Lepak 1-8 2-2 5, Aiden Janke 2-10 3-7 8. FG: 12-42. FT: 15-21. 3-pointers: 6-22 (Diedrich 3-6, Janke 1-3, Guralski 1-4, Lepak 1-6, Sheahan 0-3). Rebounds: 22 (Diedrich 10). Record: 21-6.