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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Stratford surged ahead with a 14-1 run in the second quarter and held off Stevens Point Pacelli 46-40 in a WIAA Division 4 boys basketball regional final on Saturday night at Stratford High School.
The Tigers (20-4) move on to the sectionals for the first time since 2004 and will take on Amherst (18-6), a 43-39 upset winner over Auburndale, in a Division 4 sectional semifinal on Thursday night at D.C. Everest High School. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
Travis Urlaub poured in a team-high 14 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Nolan Bargender added 13 points and seven rebounds for Stratford.
Urlaub made 8 of 10 free throws and the Tigers were 13 of 17 overall in the win.
Pacelli (17-8) led 12-10 after the first quarter before Stratford clamped down and took control of the game.
The Tigers outscored Pacelli 14-1 in the second quarter to forge ahead to a 24-13 lead. Stratford pushed the lead to 12 after three quarters and led by as many as 14 before the Cardinals made a run.
Pacelli outscored Stratford 16-10 in the fourth quarter but the Tigers were able to hold on.
Colin Jamison scored 11 points, which included three 3-pointers, for the Cardinals.
Tigers 46, Cardinals 40
Pacelli 12 1 11 16 – 40
Stratford 10 14 12 10 – 46
PACELLI (40): Altman 0 0-0 0, Elliot 3 0-0 6, Kluck 0 0-0 0, O’Sullivan 2 4-4 8, Nickel 2 1-4 6, Feltz 3 2-3 9, Jamison 4 0-0 11. FG: 14. FT: 7-11. 3-pointers: 5 (Jamison 3, Feltz 1, Nickel 1). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 17-8.
STRATFORD (46): Greg Belter 2-5 0-1 4, Nolan Bargender 6-9 1-1 13, Ben Kraus 1-2 0-0 3, Derek Austin 2-7 4-5 8, Eli Temanson 0-2 0-0 0, Travis Urlaub 3-6 8-10 14, Troy Mengel 2-2 0-0 4, Andrew Marcis 0-0 0-0 0. FG: 16-33. FT: 13-17. 3-pointers: 1-5 (Kraus 1-1, Austin 0-2, Temanson 0-2). Rebounds: 29 (Bargender 7). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: none. Record: 20-4.