The rivalry alone got the best of the Baraboo/Portage boys hockey team on Friday when the T-Birds hosted the Reedsburg/Wisconsin Dells Cheavers and fell 4-1 in a Badger North Conference showdown.

Baraboo was penalized on six occasions, which not only gave RWD the majority of puck possession but forced the Thunderbirds to fall into a 3-0 deficit in the second period. Head coach Andy Waldvogel said killing off power plays took not only time off the clock but wore down his players as well.

“Killing penalties will throw off your rhythm for sure. I’m proud of the way our guys attacked it, and we were running two units to do it. Unfortunately those two units are comprised of our top tier players and it eats up your energy.”

A standing-room only Pierce Park saw a back-and-forth battle for the first several minutes.