GameTime Games of the Week: FVA teams battle in big games

GameTime Games of the Week

Girls
Tuesday
Oshkosh West (11-5, 9-3) at Appleton North (12-3, 9-3)
Conference: Fox Valley Association
About West: Ashley Neustifter leads the Wildcats in scoring at 10.8 ppg., while Lauren Zuleger adds 8.2. … West beat North in the teams’ first meeting, 49-39. … West was tied for first place with Appleton East three conference games ago, but the Wildcats have lost two of three, including once to East. … West is coming off its first double-digit loss (Kimberly, 39-27) since the 2010-11 opener. … The 27 points West scored in its last game was the first time West was held below 30 points since Feb. 21, 2006 (Wisconsin Rapids).
About North: Jennie Stage leads North in scoring at 12.8 ppg., while Jordyn Dudley and McKenzie Greisch each adds 8.3 ppg. … Meg Riebau (8.2 ppg.) has totaled 31 points in the last two games. … North has won four in a row and nine of its last 10. … North leads the FVA in scoring at 51.2 ppg. and has averaged 66 ppg. in its last two games. … North is ranked No. 10 in the FOX 11 Top 11 girls basketball poll.
Lowdown: Both teams trail Appleton East by two games in the FVA race, so this is basically an elimination game. West is strong on defense, while North is strong on offense, so the winner of this battle should win the game.

Boys
Thursday
Kaukauna (15-2, 12-1) at Kimberly (15-3, 13-1)
Conference: Fox Valley Association
About Kaukauna: Jason Miller leads Ghosts in scoring at 16.4 ppg., while Kyle Schuh adds 11.6. … Kaukauna’s two losses this season have each come by one point, including a 49-48 loss to Kimberly. … Kaukauna is second in the FVA, allowing 43.2 ppg. … Nate Fullarton’s only two points in last week’s 47-346 double-overtime win over Oshkosh North came at the free throw line and were the winning points. … Kaukauna is ranked No. 7 in the FOX 11 Top 11 boys basketball poll.
About Kimberly: Konor Kulas leads the Papermakers in scoring at 15.9 ppg., while David Klink adds 13.8 ppg. … Kimberly is on a nine-game winning streak. … Kimberly’s lone FVA loss came in the season opener at Appleton West. … Kimberly is coming off a 65-61 win at Neenah. … Kimberly is ranked No. 10 in the FOX 11 Top 11 boys basketball poll.
Lowdown: Kaukauna is patient on both ends of the floor, so how Kimberly deals with the Ghosts’ pace likely will determine the winner. In the first meeting, Kimberly did just enough.

doug.ritchay@wluk.com