By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — The Marshfield Columbus Catholic boys basketball team opened its 2014-15 season with a thrilling 59-58 victory over Rib Lake in nonconference action Tuesday night.

Rib Lake led 21-16 after the first quarter before the Dons chipped away, tying the score at 43-43 heading into the fourth quarter.

Hunter Schultz scored 30 points to lead the Dons in his varsity debut. Evan Nikolai added 15 for Columbus.

Joe Scheithauer led the Redmen with 12 points.

Columbus will compete in the Cranberry Classic on Friday and Saturday at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption. The Dons play Pittsville on Friday at 6:15 p.m. and against Assumption on Saturday at 8 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on WOSQ-AM 1450 and wdlbwosq.com.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Dons 59, Redmen 58

Rib Lake 21 11 11 15 – 58

Columbus Catholic 16 12 15 16 – 59

RIB LAKE (58): Jared Hovde 3, Jordan Cardey 8, Noah Winke 6, Dalton Strebig 2, Austin Ewan 5, Joe Frombach 11, Jordan Blomberg 11, Joe Scheithauer 12. Record: 0-1.

COLUMBUS CATHOLIC (59): Billy Young 3, Tyler Fuerlinger 7, Christian Payant 2, Evan Nikolai 15, Hunter Schultz 30, Brett Loveland 2. Record: 1-0.