Nekoosa hoops sweep rivalry. Riverkings return home. NFL playoffs near completion.

Central Wisconsin (WFHR-WIRI)

Papermakers sweep Blackhawks

In the inaugural edition between the Nekoosa and Port Edwards Boys and Girls Basketball teams for what is billed as the Border Battle Trophy, the Papermakers made a couple of statement wins the same way.

With defense.

The Papermaker Girls kept the Blackhawks off the board early to earn a 54-28 victory, while in the Boys side, the Papermerkers took care of business with a 63-16 win.

Lily Ostrum connected on seven three-pointers in the game to lead Nekoosa with 23 points, while Taylin McDonald scored 12.

Aiden White Eagle put down 26 for the Papermakers as Price Hanson paced Port with six points.

Riverkings return home

For the first time in over a month, the Wisconsin Rapids Riverkings will be playing on their home ice in a showdown between the top two teams in the USPHL Premier North Division over Friday and Saturday, January 23 and 24.

The Riverkings will take on the Minnesota Squatch with opening puck drops at 7:00 pm on both nights.

Rapids and the Squatch met earlier in the season with Rapids winning 6-5 in overtime, while Minnesota earned a 5-3 victory in November.

Minnesota currently sits at the top team in the Division with 56 points, while Wisconsin Rapids is second with 49.

NFL in final four

The NFC and AFC championship games are here with just four teams remaining in the season in the National Football League.

The No. 5 seed, Los Angeles Rams will take on the No. 1 seed, Seattle Seahawks in the NFC, while second-seed New England Patriots will face top-seeded Denver Broncos on Sunday, January 25 with the AFC playing at 2:00pm while the NFC will play at 5:30pm.

The winners will play on Sunday, February 8 in the Super Bowl.


Photo: The Trophies that the Nekoosa and Port Edwards Boys and Girls Basketball teams will compete for annually. The Papermakers won both games this year. (Photo by Michael Kommer/Civic Media.)