This story is sponsored by: Valley Communities Credit Union
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Taylor Varsho has found the offensive groove that carried her to the Wisconsin Valley Conference scoring title a year ago, but Friday night against Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield’s junior guard had to work hard to get her points.
Varsho was 9 of 23 from the field and 10 of 17 from the free-throw line, netting a game-high 30 points in the Tigers’ 52-46 victory over the feisty Raiders at the Marshfield High School Fieldhouse.
Varsho tried to use her quickness advantage against Wisconsin Rapids, which repeatedly sent her to the free-throw line by reaching in or knocking her to the ground, that is when they could get close to her at all.
“We have people that can score and if we take care of the ball, it just gives us that many more opportunities and we’re going to be successful on the offensive end,” Marshfield coach Heidi Michaelis said.
“We felt that, if we were aggressive, we were going to go to the free-throw line. If we’re aggressive off the dribble, good things happen for us. We are quick. When you have Taylor Varsho on your side, she can create so many different things for you.”
Marshfield started quickly and took a 15-8 lead after a 3-pointer by Leah Ripp – that following eight early points by Varsho, who has scored 88 points in the Tigers’ last three games.
Marshfield pushed its lead to 26-18 late in the second quarter following three free throw by Tiffany Stargardt, but the Raiders scored the final four points of the half and the Tigers took a 26-22 advantage into halftime.
Varsho had six points and Ripp four in a 16-7 run to start the second half and Varsho’s 3-pointer with 45 seconds to go in the third quarter put Marshfield in control 45-32, or so it looked.
Rapids clawed back, using a 12-3 run over 7:12 of the fourth quarter, cutting the Tigers’ once-safe lead down to 48-44 with 48 seconds left.
However, Varsho made a pair of free throws and layup in the final minute and the Tigers (9-2, 4-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference) held Rapids (7-7, 4-2) to just one basket as they were able to hold on for their fifth straight win overall and fourth in a row to start the Wisconsin Valley Conference season.
“We had that leeway to give because they played well,” Michaelis said of the fourth quarter. “They’d make it a lot easier on themselves if they just made free throws and finish. It’s something we’ll continue to work at.
“They did what they needed to do and to come out of here with a win, in this big of a game for us, is huge.”
Marshfield hosts Wausau West on Tuesday and Merrill on Friday to start the second half of the season.
“I think that we’re improving each game in different areas,” Michaelis said. “I think we’re still a team that has yet to do all the things well in one game, but sitting at 9-2 and where we are in conference, I’m happy with that as long as we continue to improve.”
Tigers 52, Raiders 46
Wisconsin Rapids 10 12 10 14 – 46
Marshfield 15 11 19 7 – 52
WISCONSIN RAPIDS (46): Hailee Frank 5-16 2-2 12, Nicole Slovensky 3-5 2-6 8, Dana Krug 0-0 0-0 0, Ashlyn Wagner 1-1 0-0 2, Maisie Langholff 3-4 3-6 9, Elizabeth Morrison 1-3 0-0 2, Eria Langholff 1-1 0-0 2, Mariah Richardson 1-3 0-0 2, Shelby Steinke 0-0 0-0 0, Victoria Gurtler 4-6 1-1 9. FG: 19-39. FT: 8-15. 3-pointers: 0-4 (Frank 0-4). Rebounds: 23 (M. Langholff 5, Frank 5). Turnovers: 14. Total fouls: 25. Fouled out: Gurtler, M. Langholff. Record: 7-7, 4-2 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (52): Mary Wolff 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Varsho 9-23 10-17 30, Tiffany Stargardt 0-2 3-4 3, Leah Ripp 3-8 0-0 7, Sarah Wolff 1-3 0-0 2, Alyssa Brenner 1-2 2-2 4, Becky Boehning 0-0 0-0 0, Courtney Bauer 0-0 0-0 0, Eleni Seitz 3-6 0-3 6. FG: 17-44. FT: 15-26. 3-pointers: 3-10 (Varsho 2-7, Ripp 1-2, Brenner 0-1). Rebounds: 23 (Seitz 7). Turnovers: 12. Total fouls: 13. Record: 9-2, 4-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference.