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LOYAL – The Marshfield Columbus Catholic boys basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, and its first in conference play in two years, losing to Loyal 66-60 in a Cloverbelt Conference East Division matchup Friday night at Loyal High School.
Columbus Catholic’s win streaks of 19 in a row to start this season, and 34 straight in the Cloverbelt East went by the wayside with Loyal’s victory. The Dons had not lost a conference game since falling at Colby 54-51 on Feb. 3, 2015.
Columbus Catholic is now 19-1 overall and 14-1 in the Cloverbelt East, one game ahead of Loyal. The Dons finish their conference schedule Monday at home against Neillsville, and with a win, will clinch their second-straight outright conference title.
Loyal (16-4, 13-2 Cloverbelt East) can still grab a share of the Cloverbelt East crown with a win Monday at Owen-Withee and a Columbus loss.
Loyal pulled out to a 34-23 lead by halftime and held off the Dons at the end.
Tyler Fuerlinger had 19 points and Nick Malovrh added 16 for Columbus Catholic, which was playing its first game without starting point guard Hunter Schultz, who is out with an injury.
Cameron Brussow topped Loyal with 21 points.
Greyhounds 66, Dons 60
Columbus Catholic 23 37 – 60
Loyal 34 32 – 66
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (60): Jarred Mandel 8, Charles Payant 12, Ryan Dieringer 6, Nick Malovrh 16, Tyler Fuerlinger 19. Record: 19-1, 14-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.
LOYAL (66): Luke Bogdonovich 9, Riley Geiger 14, Jordan Radue 8, Elliot Genteman 14, Cameron Brussow 21. Record: 16-4, 13-2 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.