This story is sponsored by: Jake’s Quality Repair
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Marathon defeated Stratford back on Dec. 17 and the Tigers hadn’t lost since heading into the rematch Tuesday night at Stratford High School.
Stratford trailed much of the game before a late rally came up short and Marathon was able to hold on for a 59-55 win in the battle of Marawood Conference South Division boys basketball leaders.
Grant Warren scored 19 points and Marathon shot an efficient 59 percent from the field to pull out the victory and improve to 15-2 overall and 11-1 in the Marawood South. Stratford falls to 15-2 and 10-2 in the conference as it had its 10-game winning streak snapped.
Marathon had a 10-0 run to take a 26-14 lead late in the second half before the Tigers turned the tables, forcing turnovers in six-straight Raiders’ possessions.
A 3-pointer from Cam Daul and a fastbreak layup by Ashton Wrensch capped a 10-0 run by Stratford to cut it back to two at 26-24.
Marathon scored the final five points of the half to take a 31-24 lead into the break.
Marathon opened up a 46-31 lead after a basket by Warren and two free throws from Tyler Underwood before Stratford mounted another comeback.
Daul scored on a pair of fastbreaks and drilled a 3-pointer to bring the Tigers to within 51-46 with 4:22 to go.
Stratford whittled the lead down to one at 56-55 after 3-pointers from Braeden Schueller and Daul, the second coming with 1:18 remaining.
Marathon’s Nathan Hanke made three of four free throws and Stratford missed on a pair of 3-point attempts in the final 25 seconds to come up short.
“It was a hard-fought game and I’m proud of my guys,” Stratford coach Curt Schmidt said. “I’m not disappointed in our effort. Marathon played very, very well. We did a good job of trying to cause turnovers, we just missed a few too many easy ones around the basket.
Daul finished with a game-high 25 points for Stratford, which shot 51 percent from the floor (22-for-43). Wrensch and Devin Ulrich each added seven for the Tigers.
Jaden Koeller chipped in 12 points for Marathon.
Stratford hosts Chequamegon for a Marawood crossover game Friday at 7:15 p.m. The game will be broadcast live at zaleskisports.com.
Click here to view the Marawood South boys basketball standings
Raiders 59, Tigers 55
Marathon 31 28 – 59
Stratford 24 31 – 55
MARATHON (59): Jaden Koeller 3-9 4-5 12, Ben Robbins 2-3 0-0 4, Tyler Underwood 1-3 4-4 7, Noah Gage 2-2 0-0 4, Nathan Hanke 2-5 4-5 9, Drew Love 1-2 1-2 4, Grant Warren 8-8 3-3 19. FG: 19-32. FT: 16-19. 3-pointers: 5-11 (Koeller 2-5, Underwood 1-2, Hanke 1-2, Love 1-2). Rebounds: 15 (Warren 6). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 12. Fouled out: none. Record: 15-2, 11-1 Marawood Conference South Division.
STRATFORD (55): Braeden Schueller 1-3 0-0 3, Ashton Wrensch 2-5 3-6 7, Cade Bruesewitz 1-3 0-0 3, Devin Urlich 2-5 3-4 7, Camden Daul 11-16 0-0 25, Kaden Griesmer 3-8 0-0 6, Brady Schmidt 0-1 0-0 0, Zack Seitz 2-2 0-0 4. FG: 22-43. FT: 6-10. 3-pointers: 5-16 (Daul 3-6, Scheuller 1-3, Bruesewitz 1-3, Wrensch 0-1, Ulrich 0-1, Griesmer 0-1, Schmidt 0-1). Rebounds: 17 (Wrensch 4). Turnovers: 12. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 15-2, 10-2 Marawood Conference South Division.