Boys Basketball: Defense lets down just enough for RF to slip past

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The Raider boys basketball team gained slim early leads, but couldn’t outlast River Falls, who beat them 50-45 to deliver their first loss in the Big Rivers Conference.

“Our defense went down a little bit. River Falls got quite a few easy baskets,” said Coach Jason Swavely of the game in the Wildcat gym. “I just think that we weren’t as aggressive with our defense.”

Seth Stanchik led Hudson with 15 points, and Jordan Vitek had 12 and Ben Gresmer 10.

“We got good looks. Some credit has to be given to River Falls. They came out and challenged our shooters and kept us from getting the ball inside,” Swavely said, adding that his charges reacted by hit eight three-pointers.

The game was back and forth, with Hudson leading by three at halftime.

“We didn’t shoot as high a percentage as we have, and we didn’t attack gaps like we should of,” Swavely said, noting that the Raiders instead settled for many perimeter shots.

With 1:20 left, Hudson was down one point and fouled. After the free throws, the Raiders missed a shot on their end, couldn’t get the rebound and then needed to foul again.

“This was a tough loss, but its one of 20 games in our season, and we control our own destiny,” Swavely said.

Hudson also last week beat Menomonie 69-41, getting out early with a 30-point first quarter. “They played hard, but we have better athletes and better skill players. We got to play a lot of guys, and that’s always nice,” Swavely said, adding that the chance to rest some of his starters also was important.

Hudson was scheduled to face Woodbury, Minn., on Tuesday, play host to Rice Lake on Thursday, Feb. 5, then travel to Eau Claire North on Saturday, Feb. 7. Game times are 7:30 p.m. (Note: After this edition went to press, results of the Woodbury game were another loss, by a score of 49-58.)

Swavely noted that Rice Lake has beaten River Falls, and that to avoid the same fate, Hudson must stop their one big gun – which they were able to do the first time through the conference schedule. North, with some truly big men up front, has only two losses in the BRC, so it’s an important game, he said.

“It will be a big game, with a big crowd,” Swavely said, noting that against Rice Lake it will be the reverse, with Hudson defending its home court.

Tags: sports, hudson, boys, basketball, raiders