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MARSHFIELD – For the first time in nearly two years, the Columbus Catholic boys basketball team has lost a home game in the Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
Neillsville held Columbus Catholic to just 17 points in the second half and defeated the Dons 44-40 in a defensive battle Friday night at Columbus Catholic High School.
The Dons (4-3, 1-1 Cloverbelt East) saw its 18-game conference winning streak snapped, dating back to a loss at Colby on Feb. 9, 2023. Columbus had not lost a home conference game since Jan. 6 of that year, also to Colby.
The Dons led 23-22 at halftime before Neillsville pulled ahead to pick up the win and improve to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
Andrew Hoeser led Neillsville with 15 points.
Mac Konieczny had 12 points and Sam Dums 10 for the Dons.
Columbus Catholic’s next game is Thursday at Owen-Withee.
Warriors 44, Dons 40
Neillsville 22 22 – 44
Columbus Catholic 23 17 – 40
NEILLSVILLE (44): Alex Strey 3, Landon Rakestraw 9, Andrew Hoeser 15, Micah Ziebell 9, Zion Jones 7, Kaiden Strey 2, Colter Dillenbeck 3. Record: 3-1, 2-0 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (40): Mac Konieczny 12, Cole Wallace 5, Mason Edwards 7, Ben Weiland 6, Kaleb Hilgemann 4, Sam Dums 10. Record: 4-3, 1-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.