This story is sponsored by: WDLB-AM 1450 and WOSQ-FM 92.3 radio
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield girls basketball team never trailed and held off a late rally to knock off Eau Claire Memorial 41-33 in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal Friday night at The Boson Company Fieldhouse at Marshfield High School.
The Tigers won their 10th game in a row and improve to 16-7 overall. Next up for Marshfield is a trip to Superior on Saturday for a regional final at 7 p.m. Superior (20-3) defeated Hudson 71-60 on Friday.
The game is rematch of the season-opener for both teams which Superior dominated 71-38 back on Dec. 6 in Superior.
Marshfield is a different team since then, however, putting together an impressive win streak that has seen them win a number of games that have went down to the fourth quarter. Friday’s win over Memorial was another.
“We’re such a different team than we were that first game of the season,” Marshfield coach Heidi Michaelis said. “We’ve figured out how to be smarter defensively, try different things to control kids that are extremely tough on the offensive end. We’re excited to get an opportunity to play just because how rough the start of the season was.”
Ellie Fehrenbach proved unstoppable early for the Tigers, scoring eight straight points in the first 4½ minutes to get Marshfield off to an 8-2 lead.
Memorial responded, as it did often Friday, closing to within one at 10-9 at the end of the period.
Caitlin Michaelis scored four of her eight points in the second quarter and Marshfield led 18-12 at halftime after the Old Abes (16-6) missed all nine of their field goal attempts in the second quarter.
“Ellie came out and gave us a really good start,” Heidi Michaelis said. “I thought our kids played a very smart defensive game. We talked about how defense was going to win this game and I think it did. I think offensively, we were out of synch compared to where we have been. I don’t think we hit a shot outside of 14 feet and that has not happened all season.”
Marshfield pushed its lead to 10 on two occasions in the third quarter, the second time on a basket by McKayla Scheuer that put the Tigers up 28-18.
The Old Abes closed the gap again with a 7-0 run that carried over into the fourth quarter.
A 3-pointer by Kameron Gorres and a free throw by Lauren Novak brought Memorial to within three at 34-31 with 2:40 to go.
Memorial had three chances to get closer but a blocked shot by Ellie Fehrenbach and a key steal from Scheuer helped the Tigers stave the comeback attempt.
Marshfield made six of seven free throws in the final 38 seconds to ice the win.
“Our goal was to get a win and grind it out, and we did,” Heidi Michaelis said.
Ellie Fehrenbach finished with 12 points, Michaelis had eight points and eight rebounds and Natalie Zuelke added eight points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers. Scheuer also chipped in nine points in the victory.
“Our goal was to come out and do what we were doing the past nine games – share the ball and execute the plays that we’ve been practicing,” Caitlin Michaelis said. “We have a really deep bench and whoever is on on a certain night will help us.
“The second half of the season really fell together for us. We’re playing together as a team and we’ve become more of a family. We really enjoy each other’s company in practice and in games, and we’re just happy for each other whenever anyone makes any kind of good play.”
Saturday’s game at Superior will be broadcast on WDLB-AM 1450 and wdlbwosq.com.
Tigers 41, Old Abes 33
Eau Claire Memorial 9 3 11 10 – 33
Marshfield 10 8 10 13 – 41
MEMORIAL (33): Olivia Hanson 1-4 0-0 2, Allie Biermeier 1-5 2-2 4, Bridget Hujik 0-2 2-2 2, Charlotte Dial 0-0 0-0 0, Lauren Novak 0-9 6-8 6, Kaci Gorres 0-3 0-0 0, Kameron Gorres 2-2 2-4 8, Carly Massey 0-2 1-2 1, Ali Gruhlke 1-4 0-0 2, Anna Grasskamp 4-7 0-1 8. FG: 9-38. FT: 13-19. 3-pointers: 2-12 (Kam. Gorres 2-2, Kac. Gorres 0-1, Biermeier 0-1, Gruhlke 0-3, Novak 0-5). Rebounds: 26 (Grasskamp 7). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: Kam. Gorres. Record: 16-6.
MARSHFIELD (41): McKayla Scheuer 3-6 3-5 9, Caitlin Michaelis 4-11 0-1 8, Natalie Zuelke 4-10 0-1 8, Lauren Gilbertson 0-1 0-0 0, Martha Kupfer 0-0 0-2 0, Ellie Kummer 0-5 0-0 0, Ema Fehrenbach 1-1 2-2 4, Ellie Fehrenbach 4-6 4-4 12. FG: 16-40. FT: 9-14. 3-pointers: 0-8 (Scheuer 0-1, Michaelis 0-3, Kummer 0-4). Rebounds: 34 (Zuelke 10, Michaelis 8). Turnovers: 10. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: El. Fehrenbach. Record: 16-7.