Athens avenges regional title defeat

By Casey Krautkramer

The Athens varsity girls basketball team, and senior player Sophia Coker in particular, had extra motivation to beat Edgar Friday night on the Wildcats’ court. That’s because the Bluejays ended last season with a 56-47 road loss to the Wildcats in the WIAA Division 5 regional final.

This is of course a totally different Edgar squad this season, but nonetheless, Athens was the aggressor on Friday night. Edgar senior guard Taylor Lemmer drained a three pointer to bring the Wildcats within a point of the Bluejays at halftime. Athens held a slim 27-26 lead at the break.

Edgar senior players like Morgan Streveler and Makayla Wirkus did their best in the first half to keep tall Athens senior post players Sophia and Sydney Coker and Jazelle Hartwig from getting offensive rebounds for easy cutbacks, but it was only a matter of time before the Bluejays flexed their muscles near the basket. Athens came out on fire in the second half to outscore Edgar, 46-15. Sophia Coker was a major part of the team’s success in the second half. She finished the game with 39 points and 20 rebounds in helping Athens to a 73-41 win against Edgar.

Athens sophomore Sy’Rih Hartwig was second on the team in scoring with 10 points. Her older sister, Jazelle Hartwig, added nine points and she led the Bluejays with 13 rebounds, seven assists and five steals. Wirkus paced Edgar with 10 points while junior Emery Borchardt added seven points. Borchardt and Wirkus led the Wildcats with five rebounds apiece and Borchardt paced the team with four steals. Senior Maycie Yonker led Edgar with three assists.

This was the only regular season conference game between Athens and Edgar this season, since they are in different Marawood conferences. Friday’s game does count for each team’s record in their Marawood North and South conferences. Athens improves its record to 7-1 in the Marawood North Conference and 8-6 overall this season while Edgar falls to 4-4 in the Marawood South Conference and 6-7 overall this season. There’s a chance these teams will see each other again in the WIAA Division 5 regional playoffs again this season.

Athens head coach Kyncaide Keefe spoke about the extra incentive her team had to defeat Edgar on Friday in the Edgar High School gym.

“Of course it felt really good to beat Edgar, in Edgar, after our season ended there last season,” she said. “I know the girls really felt they did not play to their potential in our regional final game last season, so they definitely had some extra fuel for this game!”

“After our first half, I was very confused as to why they kept talking about how much they wanted to win, but they didn’t seem to show it on the court. So they got a little reality check at halftime, which I think led to a spark for us. We were getting good shots in the first half but we just couldn’t get anything to fall. I was more concerned with our defensive energy because I wasn’t sure if our effort was where it needed to be. So, seeing how we started the second half by keeping them scoreless for the first eight minutes proved to me that the girls were back and ready to dominate the second half. Our energy really came from Jazelle Hartwig and Ava Ford on the defensive end; they sparked our offense!”

“Sophia also had one of the best games, if not the best game of her career thus far, which was fun to watch! She was a beast on the boards and she definitely was a huge spark for us all game. I know she had a lot of regrets about last season’s loss to Edgar, so she was locked in for this game. I am very proud of the selflessness our team has been showing and the growth we are making throughout the season.”

Edgar boys win sixth straight

The Edgar varsity boys basketball team beat Newman Catholic, 66-42, on Tuesday at home to notch its sixth consecutive victory this season. Game statistics were not available before the newspaper was printed. The Wildcats improve their record to 5-2 in the Marawood South Conference and 9-2 overall this season.

Edgar defeated Athens, 59-40, on Thursday at home. Senior Preston Dahlke and junior Leyton Schuett led the Wildcats with 12 points each. Senior Brett Baumgartner added nine points.

Senior Teegan Streit scored eight points and he paced Edgar with eight rebounds and six steals. Senior Karter Butt had four steals in the victory.

Senior Andy Schaer led Athens with 14 points in the defeat to Edgar. Freshman Daxton Diethelm added eight points. Junior Brayden Frahman paced the Bluejays with seven defensive rebounds and Kian Ellenbecker led the team with four steals. Athens lost to Prentice, 62-58, on the road Tuesday. Game statistics were not available before the newspaper was printed. Athens falls to 2-5 in the Marawood North Conference and 4-7 overall this season.

Stratford boys, girls sweep Abby

The Stratford varsity girls basketball team edged Abbotsford, 45-41, on Friday at home. Senior Ashley Hollatz led the Tigers with 12 points and freshman Carly Pankratz added 10 points. Stratford improves its record to 4-4 in the Marawood South Conference and 6-8 overall this season.

Stratford’s varsity boys basketball squad also beat Abbotsford, 73-35, on Friday at home. Senior Brady Schmidt led the Tigers with 15 points. Senior Henry Zaleski and juniors Kaden Foster and Reid Miller added 11 points apiece.

Junior Drew Bruesewitz paced Stratford with seven assists and junior Caleb Wrensch had four assists. Junior Alec Chapel led the team with eight rebounds. Stratford improves its record to 5-2 in the Marawood South Conference and 8-3 overall this season.

FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH IN THE POST- Edgar’s varsity girls basketball team couldn’t prevent Athens senior Sophia Coker from having the best game in her high school career on Friday. She scored 39 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in Athens’ 73-41 road win. Edgar senior Makayla Wirkus is shown raising her arms up in the air so she doesn’t foul Sophia Coker from behind while she goes up for a basket.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTRAMER

ATHENS’ SWARMING DEFENSE - Edgar senior Malana Koehler runs into trouble amid the tall Athens defenders during Friday’s game.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER