SPARTA, WI- The Shawano Hawks (7-17) travel to take on the Sparta Spartans (15-9) in a WIAA Regional showdown. Both teams are looking to bounce back from recent losses, with Shawano coming off a 63-61 defeat to Menasha and Sparta falling 56-42 to La Crosse Central.
The Hawks have struggled to find consistency this season, but they have one of the top scorers in the region in Logan Sipple (21.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG). He leads a Shawano offense that averages 56.4 PPG and will need a big night alongside Will Verkuilen (12.3 PPG, 2.4 APG). Defensively, Shawano has racked up 135 steals, and forcing turnovers will be a key to keeping pace with Sparta.
Sparta enters this matchup with a solid 15-9 record, boasting a well-balanced attack that puts up 67.8 PPG. Gavin Rhead (18.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG) is the Spartans’ go-to player, capable of dominating the paint and controlling the boards. Grant Geier (14.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG) and Kayden Kaat (10.1 PPG, 4.0 APG) provide strong secondary scoring and playmaking. Sparta’s rebounding edge is a significant factor, with 843 total rebounds compared to Shawano’s 562.
Keys to Victory
🔴 Shawano:
- Defensive Intensity – Sparta has 184 team steals, so protecting the ball will be critical.
- Rebounding Battle – The Hawks are undersized against a dominant rebounding team. Boxing out and limiting second-chance points will be crucial.
- Sipple’s Scoring – If Shawano’s leading scorer can get hot early, it could open up opportunities for his teammates.
⚫ Sparta:
- Control the Glass – With a +281 rebounding advantage over Shawano this season, Sparta can dictate the tempo.
- Balanced Attack – Rhead, Geier, and Kaat all average double figures, making them tough to defend.
- Defensive Pressure – Sparta has forced 184 steals this year. Disrupting Shawano’s offensive flow will create fast-break opportunities.
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