This story is sponsored by: WDLB-AM 1450 and WOSQ-FM 92.3 radio
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Marshfield used a stifling defensive effort to open up a quick double-digit lead and cruised to a 56-37 win over Wausau West in the Wisconsin Valley Conference boys basketball opener for both teams on Friday night at The Boson Company Fieldhouse at Marshfield High School.
The Tigers forced six turnovers in the opening 6 minutes and ran out to an 18-2 lead, using a 1-3-1 zone half-court defense to hold West at bay.
The Warriors made just 2 of 9 shots from the field in the first 8 minutes, with Kyle Nickel’s three-point play with 36 seconds to go accounting for three of West’s five points in the period. Marshfield led 18-5 at the end of one quarter.
Marshfield (2-2 overall) led by as many as 21, at 31-10, after a basket by Luke Zuiker with 3:40 to go in the first half.
“The energy was really important,” Marshfield coach Bill Zuiker said. “We came out with it. Wausau West has tough kids, they are scrappy. I thought in the fourth we went back to man (defense) and we were sound and solid and that carried us.
“The 1-3-1 helped us a great deal in the first half because they were a little disorganized with it.”
Zuiker scored 16 of his game-high 26 points in the second quarter and Marshfield led 35-22 at halftime.
West closed the half on an 8-2 run, which included two 3-pointers by Taylor Penn, who led the Warriors with 18 points.
West (1-3 overall) closed to within nine early in the fourth quarter, but scored just four points the rest of the way and never threatened the Tigers.
“Intensity, get the rebound and push it right away and get out on the fast break,” Luke Zuiker said of the Tigers’ game plan early. “We need to keeping working on it (the 1-3-1 zone), it’s not anywhere near perfect. I think we’re more comfortable in man right now, but I think we can eventually be comfortable in the 1-3-1.”
Matt Oestreich added 10 points and Zuiker had a game-high 12 rebounds for the Tigers.
“We came out tonight and we were clipping along and when I subbed, the kids did OK,” Bill Zuiker said. “I was glad the kids got some minutes under their belts, but it’s not a real smooth rotation right now. That’s something I have to work on and the juniors have to get experience.”
Marshfield plays at La Crosse Central on Tuesday and at Stevens Point next Friday. Both games will be broadcast on WDLB-AM 1450 and online at wdlbwosq.com.
Tigers 56, Warriors 37
Wausau West 5 17 9 6 – 37
Marshfield 18 17 8 13 – 56
WAUSAU WEST (37): Noah Dreikosen 0-1 5-7 5, Kyle Nickel 2-5 3-4 7, Isaac Buttke 0-1 1-3 1, Carson Weber 0-2 0-0 0, David Seamon 0-1 0-0 0, Jacob Raeder 1-2 0-0 2, Matt Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Jake Kraimer 0-0 0-0 0, Joe Utecht 0-0 0-1 0, Taylor Penn 8-18 0-0 18, Mason Bednarski 2-3 0-1 4. FG: 13-33. FT: 9-16. 3-pointers: 2-9 (Penn 2-8, Raeder 0-1). Rebounds: 23 (Penn 9). Turnovers: 18. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 1-3, 0-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (56): Jeff Allison 1-3 2-2 5, Zach Shortess 0-0 0-0 0, Jace Krasselt 0-2 1-2 1, Luke Zuiker 9-15 8-9 26, Tanner Boson 0-0 0-0 0, Austin Gilbert 0-0 0-0 0, Matt Oestreich 4-9 2-2 10, Caleb Alexander 2-3 2-4 6, Will Spindler 1-2 0-0 2, Kegan Fassler 0-2 0-0 0, Jordan Schlinsog 0-0 0-0 0, Alex Strege 3-5 0-0 6. FG: 20-41. FT: 15-19. 3-pointers: 1-7 (Allison 1-1, Oestreich 0-2, Zuiker 0-1, Fassler 0-1, Strege 0-1, Krasselt 0-1). Rebounds: 18 (Zuiker 12). Turnovers: 5. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 2-2, 1-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference.