Warren breaks single-game scoring record

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon senior center Grant Warren broke the school’s single-game scoring record in Thursday’s 73-52 home win against Auburndale. He scored 43 points against Auburndale, which is two points better than Francis Gretchen’s 41 points he scored against Rudolph in the 1953-54 season.

Lukę Szymański and Dennis Cramer are now tied for third place in Marathon boys basketball history for scoring the most points in one game. Szymanski tallied 38 points against Stratford in the 1999-2000 season and Cramer had 38 points against Abbotsford in the 1966-67 season.

Paul Seubert is fourth on the school’s single-game scoring record with 37 points against Pittsville in the 1976-77 season. Warren, Donovan Free, Paul Syron and Tom Vetter are all tied for fifth place on the school’s single-game scoring list. Warren scored 36 points against Wittenberg- Birnamwood last season, Free tallied 36 points against Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the 2016-17 season, Syron obtained 36 points against Athens in the 1964-65 season and Vetter had 36 points against Stratford in the 1958-59 season.

On Thursday, Warren couldn’t miss from the floor in the first half against Auburndale. He displayed his great allaround game by hitting shots from all over the court, whether it was short jump shots or three pointers. Warren scored 26 points in the first half and 17 points in the second half against Auburndale. He made four of his five three pointers in the game.

He spoke about how working on his allaround game is paying off for him.

“I think it’s important to every player, not just me,” Warren said after Thursday’s win in the regular-season finale against Auburndale. “My shot was feeling good but my teammates got me open and I was able to hit the shots when they got the ball to me.”

Marathon’s boys basketball team had already wrapped up winning their third straight Marawood South Conference championship before Thursday’s game against Auburndale, yet the squad still wanted to put on a good show for its home crowd on Senior Night.

“Auburndale is a big rival of ours and you never want to take a game off,” Warren said. “This was a great game to prepare us for the playoffs because we will probably see Auburndale down the road at some point in the playoffs again this season.”

Warren also led Marathon with 14 rebounds in the victory against Auburndale. Sophomore forward Drew Woelfel scored 10 points while making both of his threepoint attempts. Senior wing Tyler Underwood added nine points and he led the Red Raiders with two steals. Senior guard Cooper Hoeksema paced the squad with nine assists.

Marathon head coach Adam Jacobson realizes that Auburndale head coach Chad Weinfurtner will develop a new strategy on how to defend Warren should these two teams meet again in the WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal again this season. Last season, Marathon also swept its two games against Auburndale in the regular season but then lost to the Eagles in the sectional semifinal in Marshfield.

“We just need to keep getting better,” Jacobson said. “We’ve played against Auburndale many times over the years and we know that coach Weinfurtner has something else that he’s going to want to do to defend Grant (Warren) and we’ll need to adjust to whatever it is.”

Marathon improves its overall record to 23-1 this season. The Red Raiders completed an undefeated 16-0 Marawood Conference schedule. Auburndale has a 20-4 overall record this season.

The Red Raiders were awarded a No. 1 seed and the Eagles are a No. 2 seed in the WIAA Division 4 regional. Marathon, Auburndale, No. 3 regional seed Edgar and No. 4 seed Stratford all received firstround playoff byes on Tuesday. Marathon plays at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 1, against Colby in a home regional semifinal. The winner of Friday’s game will play in the regional championship at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 2, against the winner between Stratford versus No. 5 seed Washburn.

Athens wins playoff opener

The Athens varsity boys basketball team pulled off a mild upset against Prentice

See BOYS BASKETBALL/ page 15

UNSTOPPABLE- Marathon senior six foot, 10-inch center Grant Warren rises up for another of his several made shots against Auburndale in Thursday’s home regular-season finale against Auburndale. Warren set Marathon’s singleseason scoring record with 43 points.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Boys basketball

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in Tuesday’s WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal. The No. 10 seed Bluejays beat the No. 7 seed Buccaneers, 58-46, on the road.

Sophomore guard Riley Schultz-Becker led Athens with 19 points and three assists. Freshman guard Daxton Diethelm added 17 points and senior forward Andy Schaer had 14. Senior forward Ty Johnson led the Bluejays with 11 rebounds while Schultz-Becker and Schaer each had nine. Senior guard Ryan Peel and Schaer paced the squad with two steals apiece.

Athens beat Prentice two games in a row because the teams met in Thursday’s regular-season finale. Athens won this game, 72-53, at home. Johnson led Athens with 20 points in Thursday’s victory against Prentice while Schultz-Becker added 17 points and Diethelm had 12. Senior Isaac Bushman and Schultz-Becker paced the Bluejays with two steals each.

The Bluejays improve their overall record to 10-15 this season while the Buccaneers end their season with a 13-11 record. Athens now plays against No. 2 Drummond, 18-7, in a regional semifinal at 6 p.m. this Friday, March 1. Athens beat Drummond, 57-42, in a home regular-season game on Feb. 1. The winner of Friday’s game will play against the winner between No. 3 Winter versus No. 6 Hurley in the regional championship at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 2.

‘Cats, Tigers will begin playoffs

Edgar’s varsity boys basketball squad concluded its regular season on Thursday with a 63-38 road win against Newman Catholic.

Senior Brett Baumgartner led Edgar with 14 points and eight rebounds while senior Karter Butt added 10 points in the victory. Senior Teegan Streit paced the Wildcats with three assists and three steals. Junior Isaac Halama led Edgar with two blocks.

Edgar improves its overall record to 18-6 this season. The Wildcats received a No. 3 seed and first-round bye in the WIAA Division 4 regional playoffs. Edgar begins the playoffs at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 1, in a home regional semifinal against No. 6 seed Iola-Scandinavia. The winner will play against the winner of No. 2 seed Auburndale versus No. 7 seed Phillips in the regional championship at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 2.

Stratford’s varsity boys basketball team defeated Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 58-41, on the road in Thursday’s regularseason finale. Senior Henry Zaleski led the Tigers with 15 points while senior Brady Schmidt added 12 and junior Drew Bruesewitz had 10.

The Tigers improve their overall record to 19-5 this season. Stratford received a No. 4 seed and first-round bye in the WIAA Division 4 playoffs. Stratford begins the playoffs at 7 p.m. this Friday, March 1, in a home regional semifinal against No. 5 seed Washburn. The winner will play against the winner of No. 1 seed Marathon versus No. 8 seed Colby in the regional championship at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 2.