Appleton North boys basketball drops regular-season finale to Neenah

AppletonSportsPage.com

APPLETON – The Appleton North boys basketball team could not overcome a double-digit halftime deficit and dropped a 43-38 decision to Neenah in both teams’ final regular season game on Thursday at North High School.

Neenah held Appleton North to 12 points in the first half, opening up an 11-point lead, and was able to hold off a second-half run by the Lightning to win by five.

After a 14-1 start to the season, Appleton North has lost seven of its last nine games, including four in a row heading into the postseason.

Brady Corso had 10 points and six rebounds to pace Neenah, which finishes the regular season 17-7 overall and 13-5 in the Fox Valley Association, good enough for sole possession of second place in the standings.

Nathan Ramus led Appleton North (16-8, 11-7 FVA) with 12 points.

Appleton North will host Kimberly in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal next Friday, March 1, beginning at 7 p.m.

Rockets 43, Lightning 38
Neenah   23   20   –   43
Appleton North   12   26   –   38
NEENAH (43): Justin Janssen 5, Luke Jung 6, Nick Schultz 4, Brady Corso 10, Grant Dean 0, Cal Juckem 7, Charlie Wunderlich 9, Ethan Hoelzel 2. Record: 17-7, 13-5 Fox Valley Association.
APPLETON NORTH (38): Will Sweeney 2, Brayden Hechel 2, Nathan Ramus 12, Grant Hardy 4, Luke Kritzer 5, Will Guilbeault 4, Abraham Tomori 7, Nathan Stanislawski 2. Record: 16-8, 11-7 Fox Valley Association.