For Elmwood/Plum City boys basketball head coach Kyle Webb and those in attendance, the final score of the home game against Boyceville on Thursday night paled in comparison to the fundraiser for a local family in need.

Before the Boyceville game on Thursday, Jan. 12, the Elmwood/Plum City Wolves hosted a benefit called Nets for Noah, which aimed to raise money for the family of a nine-month-old boy who is successfully recovering from a heart transplant he received last month.

At four months old, Noah Klinski was diagnosed with a heart condition that eventually required a transplant. Last month he had heart surgery and is healthy and recovering successfully. The Elmwood/ Plum City community continues to rally around the Klinski family as they try to cover medical expenses and recoup lost wages. pie in attendance wearing a Elmwood/Plum City Nets for Noah shirt during head coach Kyle Webb was one of hundreds of people in attendance wearing a Nets for Noah shirt during Thursday night’s contest against Boyceville. He spoke about the benefit for the Klinski family.

“A couple in the community has a young boy that was diagnosed with a heart condition and he needed a transplant,” Webb said. “He got one and he’s healthy, but that obviously takes a toll on a family with lost wages and things like that. It’s a benefit for the family.”

The Nets for Noah benefit was a two-night event that included the boys’ game against Boyceville and the girls’ game the following night against Elk Mound. Fundraising efforts included Nets for Noah T-shirts, a raffle, and other assortments.

The Elmwood/Plum City coaching staff, players and larger community weren’t the only ones who wanted to help the cause. Even the Boyceville coaching staff and game referees wanted to contribute to the cause. Coach Webb spoke about the universal support for the fundraiser.

“It was even to the point where the referees gave their stipend for the game tonight,” Webb said. “The refs that donated are Tyler Moy, Jeremy Laehn and Emma Fischer. Boyceville’s coach just grabbed us and asked if they could donate too.”

Throughout the two-night event, Nets for Noah raised just over $3,000 for the Klinski family. An additional benefit will be held at Molly’s on Main in Plum City on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Although secondary, the Wolves competed against Boyceville on Thursday evening. The Bulldogs put together a 65-48 win over Elmwood/ Plum City and went wire-to-wire in the process.

With the win, Boyceville improved to 6-5 overall and 1-3 in Dunn-St. Croix Conference action, while Elmwood/ Plum City slipped to 3-6 for the season and 1-3 in league play.

After a strong first half, Boyceville went into the intermission with a 35-28 advantage. Elmwood/Plum City chipped away at the Bulldogs’ lead throughout the opening minutes of the second half. With just over nine minutes to play, EPC sophomore Lucas Glaus buried a wing three-point that cut Boyceville’s lead to two points, 43-41.

Throughout the next eight minutes, Boyceville went on a 17-0 scoring run that included multiple offensive rebounds for layups and easy transition offense off Elmwood/ Plum City turnovers. Coach Webb spoke about what went wrong late in that second half.

“The wheels fell off,” Webb said after the game. “We couldn’t execute, we were fouling, we weren’t playing team defense or offense and we weren’t communicating. We didn’t give up, but it’s hard to win games when you don’t work together.”

For Elmwood/Plum City, the struggles on the glass and limiting turnovers against Boyceville were the same issues that have limited the Wolves throughout the 202223 season. He spoke about some of the repeated inadequacies.

“It’s the same song and dance that’s been plaguing us the entire season,” Webb said. “We essentially told them, you guys have got to get better. It’s not completely on them, but we’ve got to recognize what our strengths and weapons are and using them to the fullest of their ability.”

Perhaps no player is more of a weapon than the aforementioned Glaus, who finished the game with 15 points, six rebounds and a block. The sophomore standout has been EPC’s primary scoring option this year, as he averages a team-high 17 points per game.

Glaus is a perfect example of what coach Webb spoke about with getting weapons open and taking advantage of their talent. When the offense operates to its highest potential, Glaus becomes one of the most dominant scoring threats in recent program history.

He put that on display earlier this year in the 7362 win against Cadott. In that contest, Glaus tallied 34 points and made a program record-tying seven three-pointers en route to the double-digit victory. Coach Webb spoke about what needs to change to generate more offensive success.

“Actually setting screens, because we don’t do that,” Webb said. “Boyceville does, and you see what that did tonight. We’ve got to get better and start paying more attention in practice.”

Elmwood/Plum City was back in action on the road against Colfax on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Tip-off for that contest was slated for 7:15 p.m.

Elmwood/Plum City junior Aiden Maxwell makes a layup during the Wolves’ game against Boyceville on Thursday, Jan. 12.Photo by Reagan Hoverman