This story is sponsored by: Sternweis & Sons
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – First place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference standings was on the line as Stevens Point and Marshfield, both undefeated, took to the court Tuesday night at Marshfield High School.
For much of the first half, it looked like it would be a runaway win for the home team, but Stevens Point used a run at the end of the half to gain some momentum that carried into the second half and led to a 44-41 victory.
Stevens Point was ice cold from the field over the first 14 minutes and Marshfield took advantage.
A 3-pointer by Zaida Kolbeck started a 14-0 run that included nine points from Ayana Bousum and Marshfield raced out to a 20-2 lead.
Stevens Point, which made just one basket in its first 21 attempts, made five of six free throws and Lauren Strasman scored off an offensive rebound as the Panthers closed the first half on a 7-0 run and trailed 20-9 at the break.
After going 0-for-10 from 3-point range in the first half, the Panthers kept firing and made all five attempts in the second half. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Emma Jossie and Adaleah Nest helped the Stevens Point score the first eight points of the second half and suddenly it was a game.
Marshfield regrouped with a 3-pointer from Dani Minsaas and another basket by Bousum to extend the Tigers’ lead to 25-18.
It didn’t last long as Stevens Point scored nine-straight points in a span of 1:22. A steal and basket by Brittany Beadles gave the Panthers’ their first lead at 26-25 with 10:50 remaining.
Marshfield briefly regained the lead before Stevens Point went ahead for good after 3-poionters from Jossie, Nest and Beadles.
Marshfield twice closed to within one point as Bousum, who finished with a game-high 22 points, hit her third 3-pointer of the game with 3:15 left and Minsaas scored on an offensive rebound 45 seconds later.
Strasman was able to score twice and Jossie added another hoop on a fastbreak to make it 44-39. After a basket by Minsaas, Marshfield was unable to score again, missing on their final four shot attempts and Stevens Point held on for the win.
Jossie finished with 15 points and seven rebounds for the Panthers (9-4, 5-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference).
Marshfield falls to 11-2 overall and 4-1 in the WVC. The Tigers will play at Wausau West on Friday, while Stevens Point will play host to Wisconsin Rapids.
Click here to view the Wisconsin Valley Conference girls basketball standings.
Panthers 44, Tigers 41
Stevens Point 9 35 – 44
Marshfield 20 21 – 41
STEVENS POINT (44): Adaleah Nest 2-6 3-4 9, Brittany Beadles 2-6 0-2 5, Ellie Strong 0-0 0-0 0, Tahlia Moe 3-5 0-0 6, Lindsey Weiler 1-2 0-2 2, Reese Ryan 0-1 0-0 0, Emma Jossie 5-12 3-3 15, Lauren Strasman 3-10 1-4 7. FG: 16-42. FT: 7-15. 3-pointers: 5-14 (Jossie 2-4, Nest 2-5, Beadles 1-2, Moe 0-1, Ryan 0-1, Weiler 0-1). Rebounds: 23 (Jossie 7). Turnovers: 19. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: none. Record: 9-4, 5-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (41): Lauryn Katzenberger 0-0 0-0 0, Alyssa Foemmel 0-0 0-0 0, Sam Kilty 0-1 0-0 0, Zaida Kolbeck 1-8 0-0 3, Kaylie Charron 0-0 0-0 0, Dani Minsaas 4-14 0-0 9, Kaci Abney 0-1 0-0 0, Ashley Grancorvitz 2-12 0-2 5, Raella Schueller 1-3 0-0 2, Ayana Bousum 9-17 1-4 22. FG: 17-56. FT: 1-6. 3-pointers: 6-32 (Bousum 3-9, Kolbeck 1-6, Minsaas 1-7, Grancorvitz 1-8, Abney 0-1, Schueller 0-1). Rebounds: 30 (Kolbeck 7). Turnovers; 17. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 11-2, 4-1 Wisconsin Valley Conference.