PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
NON-CONFERENCE HOOPS … Will Ruetz works inside for a shot in Evergreen’s 80-65 win at Fayette. VIEW 92 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
SHOT IN THE LANE … Fayette’s Mason Leininger puts up a floater in the second half versus Evergreen.
By: Joe Blystone
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
FAYETTE (February 10, 2026) – Evergreen led from start to finish and put four players in double-figures, as the Vikings chalked up an 80-65 triumph over Fayette.
“This was a great team effort,” Viking coach Kyle Bostater expressed. “We want to be peaking at the right time as we approach tournament time.
“Our guys continue to show that we can bounce back after tough losses. Now our focus turns to the Swanton Bulldogs (next game).”
Chris Shrader’s left-side triple and a three point play from Quinn Eisel got Evergreen going early with a 6-0 lead.
Shrader’s second from long range in the quarter gave Evergreen a nine point margin at 11-2. Twice Fayette closed to a four point gap.
Cru Lavinder hit a triple then Kruez Lichtenwald scored from the middle of the key to make it 11-7. Shrader’s dish to Will Ruetz, then a Bryce Bolger pass to Eisel for a layup made it 15-7.
Four straight from the foul line by Mason Leininger brought Fayette within four for a second time.
George Allendorf stuck a triple in the mug of a Fayette defender, then scored off a Troy Manz steal to put Evergreen up 20-13 at the quarter.
Allendorf’s run of 10 straight Viking points got the bulge to double-digits at 25-15 before another pair of Leininger free throws brought Fayette back to 28-21.
From that point it was all Evergreen the rest of the half. Shrader knocked down his third three-pointer of the night, while Ruetz tallied seven consecutive points—first on a pair of steal-and-scores, then by sinking a three-pointer—to break the game wide open, giving their team a 43-23 lead at halftime.
Lichtenwald hit eight straight Fayette (5-15) points to start the second half but Evergreen had a balanced answer.
Eisel found Manz on a backcut, Allendorf and Ruetz both scored off turnovers, then Shrader tripled and nailed 2-2 from the line to give Evergreen a 56-31 lead.
Evergreen coasted from there as every Viking received ample playing time. Allendorf paced Evergreen (11-8) with 23. Ruetz had 18, Shrader 16 and Eisel 13.
Lichtenwald got 27 of his 31 in the second half to lead all scorers. Leininger chipped in with 14 for Fayette.
EVERGREEN (80) – Manz 5; Ruetz 18; Farley 0; Q. Eisel 13; Allendorf 23; B. Eisel 0; Bolger 0; Fisher 0; Harmon 0; Mossing 0; Rafferty 0; Gillen 2; Shrader 16; Schwartz 0; Kruzel 3; Totals: 17-12-10 – 80
FAYETTE (65) – Dombrowski 3; Schang 5; Cru Lavinder 3; Leininger 14; Lichtenwald 31; Ca. Lavinder 5; Oehlers 0; Andrews 4; Totals: 15-8-11 – 65
EHS 20 23 23 14 – 80
FHS 13 10 23 19 – 65