Larison led all scorers with 28 points, in what was the opening game of the season for both teams.

Jacob Kessel and Landon Kalkofen each chipped in 11 points for Goodman-Pembine (1-0) in a game marking the beginning of the varsity coaching career for head coach Joe Nutt with a decisive win.

Nutt took over on an interim basis for Jeff Zerbst, who took a one year leave of absence from the team for family reasons. Nutt was excited for the team to start off the season on a positive note.

The Patriots three point shooting was deadly in the game.

Niagara’s Dawson Lincoln (3) drives baseline against Goodman-Pembine’s Landon Kalkofen (23) and Lamarr Lewis (35).

“I was very surprised by that, our efficiency in practice so far hasn’t been very good,” Nutt said with a laugh. “They stepped it up tonight for game time.”

Ball movement in half court offensive sets was also very good in the basketball game for the Patriots.

“We worked a lot on ball movement in practice, to get quicker with it, to think faster and move the ball faster,” Nutt added. “Working on that in hopes that it keeps the opposition’s defense off balance.”

Defensively, the Patriots also worked hard, moving their feet and keeping the visiting Badgers off balance for a good portion of each half.

Goodman-Pembine got out to a 12-4 lead to start the game, prompting Niagara head coach Steve Derwinski to call a timeout. Out of the timeout, Niagara went on a 9-2 scoring run, taking their first lead of the game, 15-14, at the 10:06 mark in the half.

For the remaining eight minutes of the first half, the game was back and forth. Goodman-Pembine took a slim 33-29 halftime lead, by pushing the tempo of the game and draining two triples right before half.

“Their three-point shooting was certainly a difference tonight,” Derwinski exclaimed. “They also have several players who come back with varsity experience from last year, which also made a difference tonight.”

“The two or three threes in a row they made right before half took the wind out of us, and we really didn’t recover from it,” Derwinski added.

Niagara was rushing to make things happen on the offensive end of the floor in the second half, which caused their offense to be a bit sloppy. Combined with the long range accuracy of the Patriots, the Badgers couldn’t make up the double-digit margin.

Senior Ty Colenso led the Badgers (0-1) in scoring with 15 points on the night.

Niagara travels to Wausaukee Thursday night for their Marinette-Oconto Conference opener.

The Patriots host Northern Lakes Conference foe Crandon at Pembine High School on the same night.

Goodman-Pembine also won the JV game, 41-39.

Niagara 29 17 — 46

Goodman-Pemb. 33 35 — 68

NIAGARA: E. Swanson 9, Lincoln 5, C. Swanson 8. T. Colenso 15, Hagerty 2, A. Colenso 1, Weber 6. FT: 5-18; F: 20; 3-point FG: E. Swanson 3, C. Swanson 2.

GOODMAN-PEMBINE: Kessel 11, Strietzel 2, McVay 2, Erickson 3, Kalkofen 11, Larison 28, Wysocki 5, Schnell 2, Lewis 2, Balcerzak 2. FT:12-24; F: 19; 3-point FG: Larison 6, Kessel 2, Erickson, Wysocki.