This story is sponsored by: Gary Varsho Baseball League
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Stratford came out hot, opened up a double-digit lead in the first five minutes, and never looked back in defeating Colby 71-53 in a WIAA Division 3 boys basketball regional semifinal Friday night at Stratford High School.
Camden Daul made a pair of 3-pointers, and Cade Bruesewitz and Max Vanderhoof each drilled one as well as the Tigers opened up an 18-4 lead a little less than five minutes into the game and were never threatened.
Stratford made eight 3-pointers in all in the first half and shot a sizzling 65 percent (17-for-30) to open up a 44-27 lead by halftime.
Neither team made much of a run in the second half as Stratford’s lead fluctuated between 15 and 22 points.
After Colby closed to withing 49-34 after a basket by Caden Healy, Daul made a basket and Bruesewitz hit another 3-pointer to push the lead back to 20 with 9:50 to go.
Despite Colby making 11 3-pointers, including four from Tucker Meyer who had a team-high 20 points, Stratford was able to maintain its double-digit lead.
Daul finished with 20 points, Cody Miller had 14 and Bruesewitz added 13 points for the Tigers, who finished 10-for-19 from 3-point range.
“We’ve been clicking on offense and I hope it continues,” Stratford coach Curt Schmidt said. “We handled their pressure. They threw every defense at us they could and I thought we handled it well. I thought we attacked out of it instead of being content with breaking it. I thought we put together a nice game. Colby played a really good game tonight and for us to come out on top, we’re thankful.”
Stratford (14-8) moves on to a Division 3 regional final at Neillsville (15-5) on Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be live at zaleskisports.com.
“We’re excited to still be playing,” Schmidt said. “I’m excited for this group of guys. They’re passionate about playing right now, you could see it here tonight. It will be a tough matchup, but it will be fun.”
Tigers 71, Hornets 53
Colby 27 26 – 53
Stratford 44 27 – 71
COLBY (53): Mason Schmutzler 1-2 2-4 5, Tucker Meyer 7-13 2-3 20, Richard Streveler 3-8 2-2 10, Brandon Voelker 0-2 0-0 0, Brody Decker 0-0 0-0 0, Jaden Underwood 3-10 0-0 9, Henry Schmitt 0-0 0-0 0, Mateo Lopez 0-0 0-0 0, Caden Healy 2-4 0-0 4, Kaden Wiese 1-5 2-2 5. FG: 17-44. FT: 8-11. 3-pointers: 11-26 (Meyer 4-7, Underwood 3-7, Steveler 2-5, Schmutzler 1-2, Wiese 1-4, Voelker 0-1). Rebounds: 19 (Voelker 5). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: none. Record: 10-13.
STRATFORD (71): Braeden Schueller 0-0 0-0 0, Riley Bauman 1-1 0-0 2, Cody Miller 5-10 2-2 14, Kale Weisenberger 0-3 0-0 0, Cade Bruesewitz 5-6 0-0 13, Max Vanderhoof 2-7 1-2 6, Jacob Skroch 3-4 1-2 8, Camden Daul 8-14 1-1 20, Keegan Weiler 3-5 0-0 6, Kaden Griesmer 0-0 0-0 0, Zack Seitz 1-3 0-0 2, Devin Ulrich 0-3 0-0 0. FG: 28-58. FT: 5-7. 3-pointers: 10-19 (Bruesewitz 3-3, Daul 3-6, Miller 2-6, Skroch 1-1, Vanderhoof 1-3). Rebounds: 33 (Skroch 6). Turnovers: 11. Fouls: 15. Record: 14-8.