Peshtigo continues its roll in the M&O

PESHTIGO - What boys basketball team has the longest conference winning streak among area teams?

You might be surprised to learn it's Peshtigo, which once again is dominating the M&O Conference.

The Bulldogs' winning streak started about three years, so it's a long one. So long, not everyone on the team knows how many M&O games in a row the team has won

"Forty-something, I don't know," said junior forward Jordan Berth.

Senior Matt Borkovec must be more of a history buff, becaue he knows.

"Forty-nine," said Borkovec

Forty-nine it is. That is Peshtigo's winning streak in the M&O Conference.

"We knew the streak was coming up, but it certainly wasn't anything we focused on," coach Ryan Spaulding said. "We just focused on playing well and the next game ahead of us."

The streak started after an overtime loss to Suring Feb. 4, 2010. Spaulding recalled like it happened yesterday. Since then, Peshtigo has never tasted defeat in the M&O.

"Think a couple years ago we surprised some teams," Spaulding said. "We had some guys who bought in, believed, and we got it going, about three years ago now. Since then we've had some more talent come up and high expectations and the guys have really answered the call."

Peshtigo had two close calls this season against Suring, beating the Eagles twice by one point each time. Those wins show how difficult it has been to string together such a streak.

One more Suring basket, and this streak is gone.

But the Bulldogs are pressing on and have been enjoying its long M&O winning streak. The Bulldogs, however, do have their eyes on a bigger prize, the Division 3 state tournament in Madison.

"Well, that's the main goal, to get to state," Berth said. "But we just take it one game at a time and win the next one."

Borkovec smiles at the thought of going to Madison.

"That would be a memory that could last a lifetime," Borkovec said. "I mean, all of us want that, but we have to take it one game at a time, because you lose one game in the playoffs, you're done."

For now, Peshtigo will just concentrate on winning its third straight M&O title, in addition to winning its 50th straight M&O game Friday against St. Thomas Aquinas.

"We have two kids in the program that were in the high school the last time we lost," Spaulding said. "I think the guys who come up understand what we expect to accomplish and achieve here in Peshtigo."

What the Bulldogs have achieved the last three seasons is nothing short of tremendous.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

doug.ritchay@wluk.com