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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Braden Trunkel made a free throw with 1.6 seconds to go in overtime to give Neillsville a hard-fought 63-62 win over first-place Marshfield Columbus Catholic in a Cloverbelt Conference East Division boys basketball game Friday night at Columbus Catholic High School.
Neillsville led 30-25 at halftime and the Dons clawed back in the second half as the lead fluctuated back-and-forth.
A rebound and basket by Neillsville’s Mason Roenz in the final seconds of regulation forced overtime with the score tied at 56-56.
Trunkel was fouled shooting a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left and made the first free throw. He missed the next two, however, giving the Dons one last shot. A desperation pass was knocked away and Neillsville handed Columbus Catholic its first conference loss of the season.
Columbus Catholic is now 9-4 overall and 6-1 in the Cloverbelt East, while Neillsville improves to 6-4 and 5-1 in conference play.
Drew Brown scored 19 points and Trunkel finished with 16 for Neillsville.
Eden Jacobson had a game-high 25 points for Columbus Catholic, and freshman Emmitt Konieczny scored 15 for the Dons.
The two teams will meet again Monday at Neillsville at 7:15 p.m. The game will be live at zaleskisports.com.
Warriors 63, Dons 62 (OT)
Neillsville 30 26 7 – 63
Columbus Catholic 25 31 6 – 62
NEILLSVILLE (63): Braden Trunkel 16, Teagan Dillenbeck 4, Drew Brown 19, Alex Roman 2, Michael Byrne 4, Mason Roenz 10, Santana Subke 8. Record: 6-4, 5-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (62): Gage Stratman 2, Cole Noreen 3, Emmitt Konieczny 15, Jadon Nienast 9, Sam WIlczek 2, Eden Jacobson 25, Grant Olson 6. Record: 9-4, 6-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.