This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – For the second-straight game the Marshfield boys basketball team led from start to finish on its home court.
Unlike Tuesday’s win over D.C. Everest that turned into a blowout, Friday’s matchup against Wausau East was a fight to the finish.
The Tigers made eight-straight free throws over the final 1:04 to finish off a hard-fought 50-45 victory and remain undefeated in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. Marshfield is now 10-5 overall and 7-0 in the WVC, having won three in a row and seven of its last eight.
Marshfield pulled out to a 7-0 lead and went ahead 12-3 on a three-point play by Brooks Hinson.
East responded with a 10-4 run as Jesse Napgezek and Miles Casey drained 3-pointers, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 16-13.
Marshfield then ripped off seven points in a row and took a 25-17 lead into halftime.
Landon Lee hit two quick buckets to open the second half, extending the Tigers’ advantage to 12.
Ethan Knecht hit inside and Camden Kolstad made a free throw to keep Marshfield’s lead in double digits at 34-24 before Wausau East made its run.
The Tigers did not score for nearly six minutes and Wausau East went on a 7-0 run. Casey hit another 3 to spark the run and bring the Lumberjacks to within 34-31 with 4:43 to go.
The Tigers were able to stabilize thanks to Hinson, who converted another three-point play and scored inside to push their lead to 39-31.
The Lumberjacks got as close as two at 40-38 on an offensive rebound and basket by Napgezek with 1:31 left, but they could not get any closer.
Hinson hit four-straight free throws, Joey Ketterer made a layup after Marshfield broke the press, and Chris Pohl and Ketterer also each nailed a pair of free throws to keep the Tigers ahead.
Hinson finished with 18 points and Lee had 10 for Marshfield.
Napgezek led Wausau East (12-3, 3-3 Wisconsin Valley Conference) with 13 points.
Marshfield will enjoy some time off from competition before hosting Eau Claire North on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Tigers 50, Lumberjacks 45
Wausau East 17 28 – 45
Marshfield 25 25 – 50
WAUSAU EAST (45): Davis Winter 0-1 0-0 0, Jaydan Garrett 5-10 0-0 11, Jesse Napgezek 5-11 1-2 13, Miles Casey 3-8 0-0 8, Robbie Angiulli 1-7 1-2 3, Teddy Schlindwein 0-3 0-1 0, Jed Vander Sanden 0-1 1-2 1, Charlie Cayley 4-8 0-2 9. FG: 18-49. FT: 3-9. 3-pointers: 6-25 (Casey 2-6, Napgezek 2-6, Cayley 1-3, Garrett 1-4, Vander Sanden 0-1, Schlindwein 0-2, Angiulli 0-3). Rebounds: 30 (Cayley 13). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: none. Record: 12-3, 3-3 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (50): Chris Pohl 2-7 4-4 8, Joey Ketterer 2-4 2-2 6, Brooks Hinson 6-11 6-7 18, Landon Lee 5-12 0-1 10, Camden Kolstad 0-1 1-2 1, Ethan Knecht 1-1 4-6 6, Valin Ramberg 0-2 1-2 1. FG: 16-38. FT: 18-24. 3-pointers: 0-13 (Kolstad 0-1, Ramberg 0-1, Ketterer 0-1, Pohl 0-3, Hinson 0-3, Lee 0-4). Rebounds: 29 (Pohl 10). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: none. Record: 10-5, 7-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference.