STILL ROLLING ALONG

MEDFORD BOYS BASKETBALL

Now ranked fifth in D2, Raiders win three more

Medford’s mission to play as many games as possible this season led to the team’s third back-to-back game nights in a three-week stretch, but the Raiders completed another sweep in those backto- backs Tuesday with a 61-38 win over Lakeland at Raider Hall.

The team’s shooting touch left them a bit in this one, but the energy did not as offensive rebounding, steals and the ability to get to loose balls carried the Raiders to a 29-8 lead 13 minutes in and they weren’t seriously challenged after that.

The win puts Medford at 7-0 in the Great Northern Conference and 14-1 overall, while Lakeland fell to 2-5, 4-9.

Senior forward Brady Hupf and junior guard Joe Sullivan brought the energy in the early going. Hupf was a force on the glass, pulling down seven rebounds, including five on the offensive end, and eventually finishing with 12 points. Sullivan also scored 12 points and added six assists, six rebounds and five steals.

“We started off a little slow, but Brady Hupf set the tone,” Medford head coach Ryan Brown said. “I think he got multiple second-chance efforts with getting tips and rebounds that led to some points early. He got us on the board and got us a lead early on.

“Joey never gets tired,” Brown added. “We had some guys tonight where the legs looked a little bit tired. That’s probably why we didn’t shoot the ball as well from the outside. But Joey is one that doesn’t get tired. He’s out there, he’s pressuring the basketball full court and then pushing the other way on offense. He did a great job tonight, distributing and then also looking for his opportunities to shoot and score.”

The early 21-point lead was attained starting with an 11-2 run in the first 6:26. After an Alex Fortier hoop, Medford got back to work as Sullivan fed Logan Baumgartner for two and then scored his own bucket by chasing down a Lakeland overthrow. Peyton Kuhn hit a floater and then a 3-pointer. Sullivan then made a 3 of his own and Hupf scored inside for a 27-8 lead with 5:16 left in the half. Nate Retterath’s steal led to a Kuhn hoop and the 21-point edge moments later.

Medford got the lead as high as 25 at 42-17 before settling for a 42-19 lead at the half. The second half became more of a grind, but Baumgartner got some points at the free throw line and Hupf went on a personal six-point run to make it 55-27 when he hit two bonus throws and then scored off assists from Kuhn and Baumgartner.

Kuhn scored 20 points to lead the Raiders. Baumgartner was eight of 12 from the foul line and scored 10. Retterath had four points and Caleb Guden hit a first-half 3-pointer.

Retterath had seven rebounds, Owen Wipf had four steals. The Raiders forced 23 turnovers and outrebounded the T-Birds 37-27 to help offset 32.7% shooting from the field (18 of 55). Lakeland