Freedom outlasts Fox Valley Lutheran to clinch NEC boys basketball title

AppletonSportsPage.com

FREEDOM – Freedom wrapped up the North Eastern Conference boys basketball title with a hard-fought 55-53 win over Fox Valley Lutheran on Thursday night at Freedom High School.

The Irish led 31-22 at halftime before FVL raced back to make it tight, but fell a bucket short.

With the victory and Little Chute’s loss to Waupaca, Freedom (20-1, 16-0 NEC) clinches the outright conference title for the first time since 2021. Fox Valley Lutheran had won outright or shared the NEC championship the past three seasons.

Lucas Papendorf scored 19 points, and Amani Dahlke and Gabe Heiges each had 10 for the Foes (12-7, 9-6 NEC).

Drew Kortz topped the Irish with 22 points.

Fox Valley Lutheran will finish the regular season with five-straight home games, starting Monday with an NEC matchup against Luxemburg-Casco.

Irish 55, Foxes 53
Fox Valley Lutheran   22   31   –   53
Freedom   31   24   –   55
FOX VALLEY LUTHERAN (53): Gabe Heiges 10, Eligh Erickson 2, Graham Feidt 9, Jack Schlueter 0, Riley Lindell 0, Lucas Papendorf 19, Amani Dahlke 10, Blessings Kapande 0, Caleb Dahlke 3. Record: 12-7, 9-6 North Eastern Conference.
FREEDOM (55): A.J. Wesoloski 5, Kaden Vandenberg 8, Drew Kortz 22, Sawyer Ruecki 10, Donovan Davis 10. Record: 20-1, 16-0 North Eastern Conference.