This story is sponsored by Norm E Lane Farm
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford boys basketball team is making an art out of winning tight games.
The Tigers won their fourth straight game overall and third in a row by just one point, beating Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 44-43 in a Marawood Conference South Division game Friday night at Stratford High School.
Nolan Bargender scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Tigers, who beat Iola-Scandinavia 41-40 last week and Wausau Newman 44-43 on Tuesday during this string of close victories.
The win pushes Stratford to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the Marawood South, while Assumption falls to 3-9, 1-5 in the conference.
Troy Mengel added 10 points, Derek Austin had nine and Austin Shelley had eight points and six rebounds for Stratford.
Assumption roared back from a 32-22 deficit by outscoring Stratford 21-12 in the fourth quarter, but came up one point short.
Nick Buntrock led the Royals with 13 points.
Stratford is in action again Thursday when it hosts Abbotsford in a nonconference game.
Tigers 44, Royals 43
Assumption 7 11 4 21 – 43
Stratford 10 9 13 12 – 44
ASSUMPTION (43): Aaron Hallek 0-1 0-0 0, Nick Buntrock 6-14 0-0 13, Grant Sigler 0-2 0-0 0, Luke Eichinger 0-4 1-4 1, Ben Smith 3-9 0-0 9, Jake Paltz 1-3 0-0 2, Nick Davis 2-5 3-5 8, Ty Bernarde 4-9 2-2 10. FG: 16-47. FT: 6-11. 3-pointers: 5-14 (Smith 3-8, Buntrock 1-3, Davis 1-1, Paltz 0-1, Sigler 0-1). Rebounds: 27 (Bernarde 11). Assists: 7 (Davis 3). Record: 3-9, 1-5 Marawood South.
STRATFORD (44): Nolan Bargender 3-6 5-6 11, Ben Kraus 1-1 0-0 2, John Rutherford 2-4 0-0 4, Derek Austin 2-16 4-4 9, Austin Shelley 3-8 2-2 8, Josh Reif 0-1 0-0 0, Troy Mengel 5-8 0-2 10. FG: 16-44. FT: 11-14. 3-pointers: 1-7 (Austin 1-6, Reif 0-1). Rebounds: 24 (Bargender 9). Assists: 11 (Austin 5). Record: 5-3, 3-3 Marawood South.