Bluejays victorious in playoff opener

Athens wins North again this season

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens varsity boys basketball squad downed Chequamegon, 71-54, on Thursday at home. After the game, Athens coaches and players celebrated winning their second straight Marawood North Conference championship by taking turns cutting strings off the basketball net until it was completely off the rim. Junior guard Connor Sheahan led Athens with 19 points in the win against Chequamegon, while senior guard Cooper Diedrich added 18. Senior forward Kody Lepak and junior center Aiden Janke added 10 points apiece. Lepak and Janke paced the Bluejays with five assists each, while Diedrich and Janke led the team with 10 rebounds apiece.

Cooper Diedrich is enjoying his team capturing back-to-back conference titles. He said the senior class four years ago gave the Athens boys basketball program its first taste of success.

“I think it started my freshman year with a group of guys we had in seniors Seth Coker, Liam Weller, Cameron Ford and Derek Czech starting an upward trend by winning regional championships,” he said. “Ever since then, the culture has changed surrounding the Athens High School boys basketball program and players have been putting in extra time in the gym and I think it’s really starting to pay off for us. I am very excited because I think we can put together a playoff run that Athens has never had before and we think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

No. 4 seed Athens beat Rib Lake, 63-49, in Tuesday’s WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal and now plays against No. 5 seed Bruce at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 4, in a regional semifinal. If Athens wins, it’ll likely play at No. 1 seed Clear Lake in the regional championship at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 5.

Raiders victors of the South

Marathon’s varsity boys basketball team’s 59-47 home win against Wisconsin Rapids Assumption on Thursday, coupled with Stratford’s 78-71 loss at Wausau Newman, gives the Red Raiders the outright Marawood South Conference championship this season.

Sophomore center Grant Warren led Marathon with 18 points and 12 rebounds in the victory against Assumption. Senior guard Jaden Koeller added 17 points and he paced the squad with seven assists. Senior forward Ben Robbins contributed 11 points and eight rebounds, and he led the Red Raiders with three steals.

Marathon head coach Adam Jacobson said each season the team has goals to compete for the conference championship and play its best basketball when it matters most in March.

“We are very excited to win the conference championship in a league we believe is one of the best small school conferences top to bottom in the state,” he said. “We are also very excited to hopefully play our best basketball this week, with the opportunity to compete for a regional championship, against some very talented team in our section. I am very proud of our players and coaches and how hard they have worked to become the team we are this season.”

No. 3 seed Marathon, 20-4, begins WIAA Division 4 regionals at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 4, against No. 6 seed Necedah at home. Should Marathon win, then it’ll likely play at Stratford on Saturday, March 5, in the regional championship.

Stratford junior guard Ashtyn Wrensch led the Tigers with 21 points and six assists in the 78-71 road loss to Wausau Newman on Thursday. Senior Camden Daul added 13 points and he paced Stratford with five rebounds.

No. 2 seed Stratford, 20-4, starts WIAA Division 4 regionals at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 4, against No. 7 seed Weyauwega-Fremont at home. Should Stratford win, then it would likely play Marathon in a home regional title game at 7 p.m. this Satur- day, March 5.

‘Cats win regional opener

Edgar’s boys basketball team easily beat Wisconsin Valley Lutheran, 56-14, in Tuesday’s home WIAA Divison 5 regional semifnal. Edgar now plays at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 4, against Northland Lutheran at home. Should Edgar win, it’ll likely play at Marshfield Columbus at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 5, in the regional title game.

Edgar lost its final regular-season game, 54-40, at Auburndale on Thursday. Senior Ayden Weisenberger led the Wildcats with 10 points.

‘Jays lose a heartbreaker

The Athens girls basketball squad led Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 32-26, at halftime of Saturday night’s WIAA Division 5 road regional championship. Unfortunately, the Bluejays couldn’t hang onto their lead and ended up losing to the Royals, 61-60.

Sophomore guard Addison Lavicka led Athens with 19 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Bluejays head coach Kyncaide Keefe said it was an honor for her to coach the team’s three seniors in Cassandra Riehle, Elizabeth Van Rixel and McKennzie Schug.

Athens began the playoffs last Wednesday by beating Port Edwards, 61-22, at home. Athens then edged Spencer, 48-43, on Friday at home. The Bluejays end this season with a 22-5 record.

Tigers, Raiders end season

Stratford’s girls basketball team fell to Iola-Scandinavia, 45-39, in a road WIAA Division 4 regonal semifinal on Friday. Junior Lauren Kraus led the Tigers with 12 points. Stratford began regionals with a 56-28 home win against Necedah last Wednesday.

Marathon’s girls basketball squad lost to Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 34-31, in a WIAA Division 4 regional home semifinal on Friday. Senior Allison Wokatsch led Marathon with 19 points.