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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Stratford pulled ahead with a 13-5 run in the second quarter and held on to deal Pittsville its first loss of the season, beating the Panthers 43-33 in the Marawood Conference South Division opener for both teams on Tuesday at Stratford High School.
Pittsville led 12-9 after the first quarter before the Tigers surged ahead and led 22-17 at halftime. Stratford put the game away with a 14-9 run in the fourth quarter to improve to 2-0 overall. Pittsville falls to 3-1.
Derek Austin made just 2 of 12 shots from the field, but made 10 of 12 free throws to finish with a game-high 15 points for Stratford. Troy Mengel added eight points and 14 rebounds.
Gavin Hautala scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Panthers.
Stratford plays at Marathon on Friday.
Tigers 43, Panthers 33
Pittsville 12 5 7 9 – 33
Stratford 9 13 7 14 – 43
PITTSVILLE (33): Sawyer Ladick 3-6 0-0 8, Jordan Rayburn 1-9 3-6 5, Chris Downs 0-2 0-0 0, Ryan Schwanebeck 0-3 1-2 1, Cole Elwood 1-4 0-0 3, Gavin Hautala 4-12 0-0 9, Trail Pierce 2-6 2-2 7, Gabe Hautala 0-2 0-0 0. FG: 11-44. FT: 6-10. 3-pointers: 5-20 (Ladick 2-4, Elwood 1-4, Hautala 1-4, Pierce 1-2, Rayburn 0-3, Schwanebeck 0-2, Downs 0-1). Rebounds: 20 (Hautala 6, Pierce 6). Assists: 5 (Rayburn 2). Record: 3-1, 0-1 Marawood South.
STRATFORD (43): Nolan Bargender 2-7 0-2 4, Ben Kraus 1-1 0-0 3, John Rutherford 3-4 0-0 6, Derek Austin 2-12 10-12 15, Austin Shelley 0-4 2-4 2, Josh Reif 2-3 0-0 5, Troy Mengel 3-7 2-2 8. FG: 13-38. FT: 14-20. 3-pointers: 3-6 (Reif 1-2, Austin 1-1, Kraus 1-1, Shelley 0-1, Bargender 0-1). Rebounds: 30 (Mengel 14). Assists: 9 (Mengel 3). Record: 2-0, 1-0 Marawood South.