Photo by Brady Dennis Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop’s Cole Jacobson (21) puts up a shot while contested by Wabasso’s Brayden Guetter (back) and Caden Frericks (34) during a Tomahawk Division boys basketball game at GFW High School.

By Brady Dennis

sports@nujournal.com

WINTHROP — Caden Frericks had a double-double with 21 points and 19 rebounds to lead the Wabasso Rabbits to a 76-65 win over Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop Thunderbrids on Thursday in a Tomahawk-Valley Conference, Tomahawk Division boys basketball game.

Frericks also helped Rabbit defense with three blocks. Also for Wabasso, Drew Kemp had 14 points, Brayden Guetter had 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and two steals. Joe Rohlik added 10 points for the Rabbits.

Cole Jacobson led the Thunderbirds with 32 points, while Layton Uecker-Hamre had 12 points and Easton Taylor with 9 points.

“I like how we defended, especially in the first half,” GFW head coach Ryan Jacobson said. “They’ve got five guys that can really shoot it. Kemp got loose a couple of times in the first half. I thought we did a nice job locating their shooters, forcing them to get off the 3-point line which was our game plan coming in.”

The game started off with mid-range from junior guard Cole Jacobson. The Rabbits quickly answered with a 3-pointer from Kemp. The Thunderbirds showed great aggression on defense, with Owen Swenson getting two early steals to lead to a 9-0 run. That brought the score to 21-7 with around 10 minutes left in the first half.

Although the Thunderbirds started off hot and forced 17 turnovers throughout the game, the Rabbits continued to battle, with Guetter hitting two mid-range shots to bring the score within 3 points. Frericks ended the half with a free throw to have the Rabbits down 35-33.

The Thunderbirds continued to show aggression out of the break, with Uecker-Hamre starting the half with a steal. It didn’t take long for Wabasso, however, as Tavyn Larson’s and-one layup gave his team a 38-37 lead. The Thunderbirds battled around the rim, causing three fouls in a row with to two and-ones, and a third foul leading to free throws taking back the lead. The two teams exchanged answers, with Rohlik hitting a 3 to take back the lead, 46-44. Rohlik scored all 10 of his points within the second half.

Cole Jacobson picked up where he left off, hitting a 3 to tie the game at 51. Frericks took back the lead and the Rabbits didn’t look back, holding the lead for the rest of the game.

With around six minutes to play, Hamre went down hard after being fouled at the rim. He left the game but came back in the final three minutes. With five minutes left in the game, Cole Jacobson tried to bring the Thunderbirds back by scoring their last 8 points but was unsuccessful, with Frericks ending the game with a layup to bring the Rabbits to their 76-65 win.

“Second half, [Frericks] got loose inside a couple times, got some second-chance putbacks,” coach Jacobson said. “We’ve just gotta account for him.”

Wabasso improved to 14-9 overall and 8-7 in the Tomahawk with the win, while GFW fell to 8-14 overall and 5-9 in the Tomahawk.

The Rabbits play at Central Minnesota Christian next Thursday, while GFW is at Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s on Saturday.