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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Stratford used an 18-4 run in the first quarter to build an early lead and blow past Lincoln Hills 71-49 in a semifinal game at the Stratford Holiday Boys Basketball Tournament on Wednesday night at Stratford High School.
Derek Austin scored 31 points in the victory, making 11 of 13 free throws for the Tigers, who snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 3-4 on the season.
Troy Mengel added 18 points for Stratford.
The Tigers put the game away, outscoring Lincoln Hills 25-13 in the fourth quarter.
Iola-Scandinavia beat Owen-Withee 60-50 in the other semifinal and will take on Stratford at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the championship game. Owen-Withee will play Lincoln Hills in the third-place game at 5:45 p.m.
Tigers 71, Eagles 49
Lincoln Hills 4 16 16 13 – 49
Stratford 18 16 12 25 – 71
LINCOLN HILLS (49): (LAST NAMES NOT PROVIDED) Joytvis 1 0-0 2, Najvon 3 0-0 6, Dujan 1 0-0 2, Todd 4 4-5 12, Jayvon 3 0-0 6, Kayantur 0 2-4 2, Michael 4 2-3 10, Arthur 0 0-0 0, Justen 3 0-0 6, Darwin 1 0-0 3. FG: 20. FT: 8-12. 3-pointers: 1 (Darwin). Fouls: 21. Fouled out: Jayvon, Michael. Record: not provided.
STRATFORD (71): Nolan Bargender 1 0-3 2, Ben Kraus 0 0-0 0, John Rutherford 2 0-0 4, Derek Austin 10 11-13 31, Austin Shelley 3 1-2 7, Josh Reif 1 0-0 3, Zach Hotchkiss 0 0-0 0, Troy Mengel 6 6-6 18, Travis Urlab 1 4-4 6. FG: 24. FT: 22-26. 3-pointers: 1 (Reif 1). Total fouls: 14. Fouled out: none. Record: 3-4.