RIVER FALLS — The two top boys basketball teams in the Big Rivers Conference refused to back down Friday night, playing a tight game that reflected on the scoreboard with a 32-30 first half in River Falls’ favor over Hudson. The second half was more of the same until a backdoor cut from senior Brody Graetz built a 49-46 River Falls lead with 8:30 remaining. The layup sparked a massive 14-2 run, giving River Falls a 63-48 lead that the team would cling to and handle with ease.

With the win, River Falls tied Hudson at 10-2 to lead BRC play with two conference games remaining for each squad.

“It means everything. We lost one to New Richmond earlier in the week, so this is a big game. We knew we needed to get right back in first,” Graetz said. “We knew we needed a win or otherwise our hopes of being conference champs wasn’t going to be there.”

The story of the game, though, was sophomore Colton Nesbitt, who entered the game averaging about three points-per-game, scoring 19 points on 9-of-13 shooting to go with 12 rebounds. For those inside the huddle, Nesbitt’s ability was never questioned.

“He stepped up huge tonight. We’ve been telling him that no one can guard him, and I feel like he just figured that out tonight,” Graetz said of the six-foot-seven post. “No one could stop him, literally. Even if he’d miss it, he’d just go back, get his own rebound, put it right back up.”

Nesbitt has felt the team support every step of the way, and everything started to click in the win over the Raiders.

“I just got to the rim and attacked. A lot more confidence today. Just helped me that my teammates surround me with a lot of love. Every day in practice makes me better,” Nesbitt said.

Putting up those numbers in the second game of a season sweep made the performance all the sweeter. Nesbitt said between the first meeting and the win over Hudson in football, the Wildcats knew they could take to the floor and beat the Raiders again.

“We play a lot harder when we play them too, because it’s just a big rivalry. It also helps that football did well this year, so it gives us a little confidence,” Nesbitt said. “It was really fun.”

Graetz had 25 points of his own with seven assists, playing a big part in the run to close out the game.

“Keep the foot on the gas and keep going. We can’t step off and let them try to come back. We’ve got to keep going, keep putting up points,” Graetz said.

Other top scorers were seniors Tanner Bottolfson with 12 points on three triples and Austin Stellrecht with nine points.

With four regular season games remaining, the message is simple for River Falls.

“Grit and just stay together. Even if we lose a game coming up here, just stay together and focus on the next one,” Nesbitt said.

Girls Basketball

Prior to the nightcap win from the boys, the girls took a tough loss 56-34. Hudson had the Wildcats’ number this year, previously winning 66-38 on their own turf. While the loss was a bump in the road, River Falls came in as the winners of four consecutive conference games, landing themselves at 13-9 overall and 7-6 in Big Rivers Conference play.

The key to the run was that many Wildcats were getting the job done rather than a few leading the pack.

Girls basketball postseason matchups were recently announced, with River Falls getting a No. 6 seed in Division 2, lining up for a road matchup Feb. 24 against Onalaska. The Hilltoppers are 16-6 and led by sophomore Kayla Ketelhut, who averages 18.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 3.6 steals.