This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The Marshfield boys basketball team pulled into the Division 1 state rankings this week for the first time this season and the Tigers were not about to let it be a one-time thing.
The Tigers, ranked ninth in the Wissports.net Division 1 state coaches poll, came out sizzling, opening up a double-digit lead in the first three minutes and rolling to a 72-33 victory over Merrill in a Wisconsin Valley Conference matchup Friday night at the Fredrick Construction Fieldhouse at Marshfield High School.
Marshfield extends its winning streak to eight as improves to 13-1 overall and 5-0 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. Merrill is now 4-8 and 0-4 in the WVC. Click here to view the Wisconsin Valley Conference boys basketball standings.
Marshfield junior Brooks Hinson made six of seven shots from 3-point range in the first half and finished with a game-high 20 points as he surpassed the 900-point mark for his career.
A pair of 3s from Hinson and two baskets by Chris Pohl helped Marshfield jump out to a 14-2 lead and it led by double digits the rest of the way.
Hinson and Brant Freis had 3-pointers to push it to 29-9 and the Tigers ended the half on an 11-0 run to make it 47-18 at halftime.
“I’m happy with how we’re playing offensively, for the most part,” Marshfield coach Chris Fischer said. “There are times where we are a little loose with the ball. Against switching man teams, you really have to be good at how you screen and how you slip, and the timing of that. We’re getting better at that, but the problem is we’re not necessarily connecting on some of those passes. Our ball movement was really good tonight and when you can knock down shots like Brooks did in that first half, if gives you a cushion and let’s everyone else gain confidence.”
After a slow start to the second half, the Tigers put the finishing touches on the win with a 14-4 run highlighted by baskets from reserves Joey Ketterer and Noah Daniels as Marshfield’s bench got major run in the blowout win.
Eleven of the 13 Marshfield players scored in the win, with Pohl adding 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Landon Lee chipped in 12 points as well.
Marshfield shot 56 percent (28-for-50) from the field and held Merrill to 28 percent (13-for-47).
“Defensively, they set a ball screens and we guarded that, for the most part, really well,” Fischer said. (Carter) Baade and 11 (E.J. Weix) are really talented players and I thought we did a good job of keeping them in check.”
Marshfield hosts Chippewa Falls (1-11) for a nonconference game Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.
Tigers 72, Bluejays 33
Merrill 18 15 – 33
Marshfield 47 25 – 72
MERRILL (33): Carter Baade 3-12 0-0 6, Jacob Schmeltzer 1-3 0-0 2, Ethan Ravn 0-0 0-0 0, Aidan Houghton 3-9 0-1 7, E.J. Weix 2-8 3-5 8, Tyson Ott 2-6 0-0 6, Ondre Houghton 0-3 0-2 0, Cooper Wendorf 0-2 0-0 0, Jax Hanson 0-1 0-0 0, Carson Woellner 2-3 0-0 4. FG: 13-47. FT: 3-8. 3-pointers: 4-28 (Ott 2-5, Weix 1-4, A. Houghton 1-6, Woellner 0-1, Schmeltzer 0-1, Wendorf 0-2, O. Houghton 0-2, Baade 0-7). Rebounds: 21 (Weix 7). Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 14. Fouled out: none. Record: 4-8, 0-4 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (72): Chris Pohl 4-7 4-4 12, Joey Ketterer 1-3 0-0 2, Maxx Oertel 2-4 0-0 4, Noah Daniels 1-1 0-0 2, Brooks Hinson 7-10 0-0 20, Brant Freis 1-3 0-0 3, Landon Lee 5-7 1-1 12, Afton Hamill 0-0 0-0 0, J.J. Steinbach 0-1 0-0 0, Jack Sternitzky 1-1 0-0 3, Valin Ramberg 3-8 0-0 6, Ethan Knecht 2-4 2-2 6, Magnus Machtan 1-1 0-2 2. FG: 28-50. FT: 7-9. 3-pointers: 9-23 (Hinson 6-9, Sternitzky 1-1, Freis 1-3, Lee 1-3, Oertel 0-1, Ketterer 0-1, Steinbach 0-1, Ramberg 0-2, Pohl 0-2). Rebounds: 38 (Pohl 11). Turnovers: 14. Fouls: 8. Fouled out: none. Record: 13-1, 5-0 Wisconsin Valley Conference.