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MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Austin Shelley made a shot at the buzzer to lift the Stratford boys basketball team to a 41-40 win over Iola-Scandinavia in the championship game of the Stratford Holiday Tournament on Thursday night at Stratford High School.
Shelley, who struggled during the game making 4 of 15 free throws, came up with the game-winner and finished with eight points for the Tigers (4-4).
Derek Austin scored 15 points to lead Stratford. He had all three of the Tigers’ 3-pointers.
Stratford led 33-23 after three quarters only to see Iola-Scandinavia (4-5) storm back. The Thunderbirds made 8 of 15 free throws and Bradley Hardel had seven points in the fourth quarter to push them ahead 40-39 in the closing seconds.
Owen-Withee won the third-place game 71-38 over Lincoln Hills.
Stratford hosts Wausau Newman Catholic on Tuesday.
Tigers 41, Thunderbirds 40
Iola-Scandinavia 5 10 8 17 – 40
Stratford 13 11 9 8 – 41
IOLA-SCANDINAVIA (40): Brian Boyle 0 3-5 3, Grant Sternesen 0 1-2 1, D.J. Loken 0 1-2 1, Conner Lodewagen 0 2-4 2, Lucas Albers 6 0-2 14, Jordan Beyersdorf 0 2-6 2, Bradley Hardel 5 3-4 13, Brian Tap 1 1-2 4. FG: 12. FT: 13-27. 3-pointers: 3 (Albers 2, Tap 1). Total fouls: 22. Fouled out: Boyle, Albers. Record: 4-5.
STRATFORD (41): Nolan Bargender 2 1-1 5, Ben Kraus 0 2-2 2, John Rutherford 1 0-0 2, Derek Austin 6 0-0 15, Austin Shelley 2 4-15 8, Josh Reif 1 1-3 3, Troy Mengel 3 0-1 6. FG: 15. FT: 8-22. 3-pointers: 3 (Austin 3). Total fouls: 23. Fouled out: Austin. Record: 4-4.