This story is sponsored by: WDLB-AM 1450 and WOSQ-FM 92.3 radio
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
WITTENBERG – For the second time in less than a month, Stratford battled state-ranked Wittenberg-Birnamwood to the bitter end but couldn’t pull out a victory.
Wittenberg-Birnamwood, ranked ninth in the WisSports.net Division 4 state coaches’ poll and a top seed in the D-4 sectional, made 16 of 25 free throws in the second half to hold off fourth-seed Stratford 40-33 in a WIAA Division 4 regional final Monday night at Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School.
Witt-Birn (23-1) moves on to a sectional semifinal Thursday against Neillsville at Wausau West. Neillsville slipped past Marathon 51-39 in a regional final Monday.
Stratford led 15-14 at halftime as Sammy Griesbach scored six points and Kaylee Hollatz added five for the Tigers.
The Chargers pulled ahead in the second half despite making only four baskets from the field. Kristen Clark made 10 of 12 free throws and Emily Norrbom was 4-for-8 from the line in the second half to help Wittenberg-Birnamwood build a lead and hold on late. Clark finished with a game-high 18 points.
Stratford (17-8) only made four baskets as well in the final 18 minutes, including a pair of 3-pointers from Hollatz, who finished with 11 points.
Andie Zuelke was 7 of 11 at the line in the second half to keep the Tigers close, but it wasn’t enough in the end. Zuelke finished with 13 points to lead Stratford.
Chargers 40, Tigers 33
Stratford 15 18 – 33
Wittenberg-Birnamwood 14 26 – 40
STRATFORD (33): Taya Nett 0 3-5 3, Blaire Linder 0 0-0 0, Sammy Griesbach 3 0-0 6, Chelsey Gliniecki 0 0-0 0, Kaylee Hollatz 4 0-0 11, Andie Zuelke 3 7-13 13. FG: 10. FT: 10-18. 3-pointers: 3 (Hollatz 3). Fouls: 21. Fouled out: none. Record: 17-8.
WITTENBERG-BIRNAMWOOD (40): Maykayla Verkuilen 0 0-0 0, Paige Norrbom 1 0-0 3, Kristen Clark 3 10-12 18, Alexis Balliett 3 0-2 7, Sam Kastrak 0 0-0 0, Emily Norrbom 0 4-8 4, Vicky Dombeck 0 0-0 0, Taylor Nier 0 0-2 0, Corrissa Konkol 2 4-4 8. FG: 9. FT: 18-28. 3-pointers: 4 (Clark 2, P. Norrbom 1, Balliett 1). Fouls: 12. Fouled out: none. Record: 23-1.