- Center Alex Buchholtz, #44, scores one of his two consecutive baskets for the Thunder in their 48-47 victory of Luxemburg-Casco on Thursday, Jan. 26. – Photo by Keith Skenandore
Seymour 48, Luxemburg-Casco 47
Seymour scored a thrilling 48-47 victory over Bay Conference leader Luxemburg-Casco on Thursday, Jan. 26, creating a three-way tie for first joining the Spartans and West De Pere.
Thunder guard Sandy Cohen missed the front-end of a bonus with eight seconds remaining but junior guard Bret Rottier was able to block the Spartans final shot as the buzzer sounded.
“We were able to finish the game for once,” Thunder Coach Jon Murphy said while the Thunder Fieldhouse crowd was going crazy.
The host Thunder jumped out to a 19-9 first quarter lead and was able to hang tough with the Spartans and lead at the half 26-24.
Seymour increased their lead to five when Alex Buchholtz scored in the paint and was fouled.
The Spartans came back and tied the game with 3:39 in the fourth quarter.
Two Buchholtz buckets kept the Thunder in the lead 45-43 with 2:25 remaining.
Seymour missed a few free throws down the stretch but was able to hold off the Spartans.
“We played four good quarters,” Murphy said.
Seymour 54, Oconto Falls 29
Seymour’s smothering defense held Oconto Falls to two points in the second quarter and the Thunder pulled away for a 54-29 home victory on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
Thunder Coach Jon Murphy wasn’t surprised by his team’s defensive effort against the 1-8 Panther team
“Our kids knew what we needed to do,” he said.
Seymour hit seven 3-pointers and were led in scoring by Sandy Cohen with 15 points.
Nick Hornick added 13 and Dakota Oskey finished with 10.
Murphy said thus far it’s been hit and miss with the team’s big three (Cohen, Oskey and Hornick).
When all three score in double digits we are really competitive,” he said. “Hopefully everybody else chips in a little bit.”
“That’s our formula for success.”
West De Pere 52, Seymour 46
At West De Pere, Seymour was outscored the first three quarters and could not overcome the 11-point deficit in their loss to West De Pere on Friday, Jan. 20.
The Phantoms scored 14 points each in the first three quarters and led the Thunder 42-31 going into the final quarter.
Seymour was down 18 at one point but were able to cut the lead to two with 1:45 remaining in the game.
“Our kids battled back,” Seymour Coach Jon Murphy said. “We dug a hole and almost pulled it out.
He said his team’s inability to hit free throws hurt their chances. They shot 2 of 9 for the game.
“We couldn’t get over the hump,” Murphy said of his team’s 0-5 free throw shooting in the fourth quarter. “Two were bonuses.”
He said Oconto Falls was given a technical and his team missed both of those free throw attempts.
“We just couldn’t get it done,” Murphy said.
Nick Hornick scored 22 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the Thunder.
Seymour’s loss put them in a tie for second with West De Pere in the Bay.
Murphy is not surprised by the Phantoms record.
“They started off a little bit slow,” he said. “They are playing as well as anybody in the Bay right now.”
