Raiders grind through tough stretch

Team battle tested for the D-4 playoffs

By Casey Krautkramer

Jeff Schneider, Marathon varsity girls basketball head coach, has learned a lot of about his team during its recent grueling stretch of three straight losses to tough squad Phillips, Westfield and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption.

Marathon battled against Assumption on Thursday during Senior Night, but the Red Raiders came up a bit short in a 49-44 loss to the Royals. Senior guard Allison Wokatsch led Marathon with 16 points while senior forward Laci Hoeksema added nine points and she paced the team with three steals.

Coach Schneider wasn’t down about his team’s defeat to Assumption.

“I thought it was a super effort on senior night,” he said. “The kids played hard and we’ve played well enough defensively to compete with really good teams, and Assumption is obviously one of the better teams in the state.”

Marathon, 13-11, suffered two straight road defeats to Philips, 22-2, and Westfield, 23-1. Westfield is ranked No. 3 in the final wissports.net Division 4 coaches poll. Marathon then lost to Assumption at home on Thursday before beating Rib Lake, 60-30, on the road Friday in the regular season finale. Assumption is ranked No. 5 in the final wissports.net Division 5 coaches poll.

The Red Raiders received a No. 4 SPORTS

seed and first-round bye in this week’s WIAA Division 4 playoffs. Marathon begins the playoffs at 7 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 25, at home against either Wittenberg-Birnamwood or Montello.

If Marathon wins, then it’ll play at Westfield at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 26, in the regional championship. Coach Schneider believes this squad has a shot to revenge its recent 60-32 loss to Westfield.

Bluejays finish strong

Athens’ varsity girls basketball team blasted Chequamegon, 76-16, at home Thursday.

Sophomore guard Addison Lavicka led Athens with 16 points and four assists, while senior center McKennzie Schug added 12 points and she paced the team with five steals. Sophomore forward Sophia Coker led Athens with three blocks.

No. 4 seed Athens plays against No. 5 seed Spencer at 7 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 25, in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal. Should Athens win, it would play at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 26, in the regional championship.

Edgar downs Auburndale

Edgar’s varsity girls basketball squad beat Auburndale, 48-38, on the road Thursday.

Junior Reagan Borchardt led Edgar with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Malia Hoesly paced the team with five assists in the victory.

No. 3 seed Edgar plays against either Gresham or Northland Lutheran at 7 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 25, in a WIAA Division 5 playoff home game. If Edgar wins, then it’ll play at No. 2 seed Wild Rose, 20-1, at 7 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 26, in the regional championship.

Tigers prevail

Stratford’s varsity girls basketball team upended Wausau Newman, 34-28, on the road Thursday. Junior center Lauren Kraus paced the Tigers with 11 points.

No. 6 seed Stratford, 11-12 plays at Iola-Scandinavia, 14-9, at 7 p.m. this Friday, Feb. 25, in a regional semifinal.

Athens boys win the North

The Athens varsity boys basketball team’s 63-45 home win against Phillips on Friday, coupled with Cheqaumegon’s loss to Prentice, earned the Bluejays their second straight Marawood North Conference title.

Senior guard Cooper Diedrich led Athen with 30 points and five assists, while junior center Aiden Janke added 18 points and he paced the squad with 13 rebounds.

Raiders, Tigers tied for first

The Marathon and Stratford varsity boys basketball teams would share the Marawood South Conference title if they both are victorious this Thursday, Feb. 24.

Marathon plays at home against Wisconsin Rapids Assumption and Stratford plays at Wausau Newman. Marathon’s loss to Newman on Friday created the first-place tie between the Red Raiders and Tigers.