I/G upsets Port Edwards, falls to AC Lincoln

The Independence/Gilmanton boys basketball team pulled off one big upset, but fell in the second round of tournament play.

Seeded 11th, the Indees were one of just six teams seeded 10th or lower to win in the first round of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Five tournament play. It took three extra periods for the Indees to do so, but they beat (6) Port Edwards, 79-69, in triple overtime last week Tuesday. On Friday, the Indees hung with (3) Alma Center Lincoln, but the Hornets pulled away in the second half for a 58-37 win.

In just the second year of the cooperative agreement between the Independence and Gilmanton districts, the Indees finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 10-16 record, a year after going 4-21. I/G is expected to return most of its roster with just two seniors, Carlos Flores and Angle Mendoza, graduating. 

I/G 79 Port Edwards 69

It took until the third overtime, but the Indees finally wore the Blackhawks down for the upset win. 

I/G didn’t allow a basket for the final three minutes of the second overtime after taking an early lead. Payton Hovey scored early in the period to put I/G ahead then Carlos Flores converted a three-point play to make the score 71-67.

The Blackhawks scored on a layup with 2:55 remaining, but those would be their last points. Flores scored on I/G’s ensuing possession then Nolan Schank added a layup. The Indees went ahead by 10 on free throws by Hovey and Angel Mendoza.

Both teams had chances to win the game before the third overtime period.

The Indees had the ball late in both regulation and the first overtime, but turned it over. That mistake didn’t cost them, however, as Josh Tranel missed a jumper at the regulation buzzer and Max Michels bricked a layup at the end of the first overtime. 

The Indees had a chance at the end of the second overtime, but a last-second heave came after the buzzer and was off the mark. 

I/G shot nearly 50 percent from the field, finishing at 47.6 percent while holding Port Edwards to 31.5 percent. However, I/G missed 15 free throws in the game and committed six more turnovers. 

Hovey led I/G with 20 points while Flores scored 18 and pulled in 20 rebounds. I/G dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 56 to 32. Schank and Mendoza both scored 12 points and Tyler Parr finished with 10.

Brynden Beck scored a game-high 26 for Port Edwards while both Michels and Tranel finished with 20.

Independence (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Mendoza 3/8-4/4-9-1-12 Hovey 7/17-5/8-8-3-20 Lopez 3/5-0/0-6-2-7 Kreibich 0/0-0/0-0-1-0 Parr 4/8-14-1-4-10 Turner 0/2-0/2-2-0-0 Schank 5/7-2/4-8-2-12 Flores 8/16-2/7-20-3-18

AC Lincoln 58 I/G 37

The Indees stuck with the Hornets for much of the game, but a 19-4 run in the second half was too much to overcome.

Outside shots helped the Indees stay in the game in the first half as a three-pointer by Parr gave the team a 16-13 lead with nine minutes remaining in the half. Hovey later connected on a three that tied the game at 19 with about five minutes remaining. The Hornets closed the first half with a 9-2 run to take a 28-21 lead into halftime.

The Indees stuck with the Hornets in the second half, the team still trailed by seven early, but ACL pulled away with a 19-4 run that put the team ahead 51-29 late in the game.

The Hornets got 23 points from Jace Paul and Ben Ross cored 19. Hovey had 13 to lead the Indees. 

Independence (field goals/attempts-free throws/attempts-rebounds-fouls-points) — Mendoza 1/6-0/0-3-2-3 Hovey 4/15-2/2-4-3-13 Lopez 0/4-1/2-3-3-1 Parr 2/4-1/2-1-4-7 Turner 0/2-0/0-2-2-0 Schank 3/7-0/2-4-2-6 Flores 2/6-3/5-7-2-7