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TRACY Soon after leaving the court Tuesday, the Wabasso boys basketball team let one thing be known after its 57-45 victory over Red Rock Central in the Holiday Hoops Basketball Tournament in Tracy.

"...the first thing they said when we got off the court," Rabbits head coach Stan Rohlik said. "'We're in the championship.' They haven't had that in years."

Although they won by a convincing margin, the game didn't go smoothly the entire time for the Rabbits. Wabasso (3-4) jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the opening minutes of the game, but allowed the Falcons to go on an 11-0 run to take the lead back. RRC (0-5) would keep its lead the rest of the half, and took a 25-20 lead into the locker room.

Wabasso forward Sam Guetter said the team talked about areas that needed work, and the Rabbits executed in the second half.

"We wanted to pressure the ball more, which we did pretty good," Guetter said. "And then we wanted to help more on defense, make sure that everyone knows where they're supposed to be helping on defense."

The defensive adjustments paid off for Wabasso. The Rabbits outscored Red Rock Central 37-20 in the final 18 minutes.

The Rabbits opened the second half with a 16-4 run. Steven Rohlik hit a runner to put Wabasso up 11 with 12:05 to go. The Falcons managed to cut the lead to six at 8:44, with the score 42-36 in favor of Wabasso. But the Falcons would get no closer.

"When you're not going to play defense and give them easy shots, they're going to get some easy points, and that's what happened," Falcons head coach Brian Walker said. "And then we struggled to score to keep the lead, so that's kind of where the difference in the game was, I thought."

Guetter led the Rabbits with 14 points. Steven Rohlik added 10 points.

The Falcons were led by Aaron Furth's 14 points.

Guetter said that after seeing their lead quickly disappear in the first half, the Rabbits knew they needed to pick things up.

"It definitely wakes us up," Guetter said. "When you're up by 14 you think you've got it, and all of a sudden they come right back. You can't really underestimate any team."

Stan Rohlik said his team's early run in the second half was much needed.

"The whole momentum thing is huge," Stan Rohlik said, "and that's what you need when you come out of the half."

Wabasso will play Tracy-Milroy-Balaton tonight at 7:30 in Tracy. The Falcons face Russell-Tyler-Ruthton at 6 p.m.

Wabasso (57)

Tyler Huhnerkoch 2 1-2 5, Sam Guetter 7 0-1 14, Steven Rohlik 5 0-2 10, Jason Plaetz 4 0-0 8, Drew Jenniges 3 0-0 6, Dalton Salfer 0 1-2 1, Dylan Bock 4 0-0 9, Taylor Zuehlsdorf 2 0-0 4. Totals 27 2-7 57

Three-pointers 1 Rebounds 41 (Huhnerkoch 9) Assists 6 (Guetter 2, Rohlik 2) Steals 6 Blocks 1 (Guetter) Turnovers 17 Total Fouls 12

RRC (45)

Nathan Beierman 2 0-0 4, Aaron Furth 7 0-2 14, Henry Rogotzke 2 1-5 5, Tyler Erickson 2 2-2 6, Jake Fredrickson 5 2-2 13, Andrew Engen 0 1-2 1. Totals 19 6-13 45.

Three-pointers 1 Rebounds 30 (Furth 9) Assists 6 (Erickson 4) Steals 5 Blocks 4 (Erickson 2) Turnovers 11 Total Fouls 12

Halftime Score RRC 25, Wabasso 24