Raiders avenge playoff loss to Eagles

By Casey Krautkramer

What a difference a year makes! Marathon’s varsity boys basketball team reversed its fortunes against Auburndale in the WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal on Thursday compared to what occurred in last year’s game.

Last season Marathon led Auburndale at halftime during its sectional semifinal in Marshfield but the Eagles mounted a huge second-half comeback for a 55-47 win. On Thursday, Marathon was losing at halftime in its sectional semifinal in Merrill and the Red Raiders rallied in the second half for a 57-54 victory.

Marathon swept its Marawood South Conference regular-season series against Auburndale this season, just like it did last year, but on Thursday the Red Raiders were able to beat the Eagles in the sectional playoffs too.

Red Raiders head coach Adam Jacobson knew that Eagles head coach Chad Weinfurtner would have something up his sleeve to prevent star center Grant Warren from dominating the sectional semifinal like he did in the regular-season finale.

See SEMIFINALS WIN/ page 10

HEROES OF THE SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL REJOICE THE WIN- Marathon senior wing Tyler Underwood (14) hugs sophomore guard True Thurs after the final buzzer sounds on Thursday’s 57-54 win against Auburndale in the WIAA Division 4 sectional semfinal in Merrill. Auburndale head coach Chad Weinfurtner and the Eagles fans and players are shown in the background reeling from this year’s sectional semifinals defeat to Marathon. STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Semifinals win

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Warren scored 43 points in Marathon’s 73-52 home win against Auburndale on Feb. 22. He broke Francis Gertschen’s school record for scoring the most points in a game, 41, that lasted for 70 years.

Auburndale employed a “box and 1” defense on Thursday designed to prevent Warren from receiving the basketball. The defense involves one defender playing man-to-man defense on Warren while the other four defenders are set up in a box formation to play zone.

The Eagles’ “box and 1” defense worked great against Warren, especially in the first half when the Red Raiders were shooting the basketball poorly from outside. Although Auburndale was able to limit Warren’s effectiveness in the game, Marathon senior wing Tyler Underwood was able to exploit the Eagles’ defense by flashing into the lane to either shoot a short jumper at the free-throw line or drive to the basket to either score a basket, get fouled or both.

Underwood’s scoring kept Marathon in the game during the first half and sophomore guard True Thurs’ made a threequarter heave before the buzzer brought the Red Raiders within three points of the Eagles at the break.

Warren was fouled on a shot attempt almost four minutes into the second half. He made one of two free throws to tie the game at 26 points for each team. A while later, sophomore forward Drew Woelfel’s basket tied the game again at 28 points. Underwood then drained a pair of three pointers to give Marathon a 34-28 lead. Woelfel’s made basket and three pointer pushed Marathon’s advantage to 39-28 and the Red Raiders held onto the lead until the game ended.

Underwood played one of his best career games on Thursday in the team’s sectional semifinal win against Auburndale. He scored a game-high 31 points.

“Our coach stressed at halftime and during timeouts to be aggressive and a lot of my buckets came from my teammates finding me when I flashed into the middle for a jumper when Auburndale defenders collapsed down on Grant,” Underwood said. “I just shot the ball with confidence and my shots went in.”

Jacobson felt that Underwood would have a huge game against Auburndale.

“Tyler had his best week of practice that he’s ever had as a Marathon boys basketball player this week and he played like it tonight,” he said.

Warren and Woelfel scored 10 points each and Thurs added six points for Marathon. Senior guard Cooper Hoeksema led the Red Raiders with 10 assists. Warren paced the team with three steals and two blocks.

Junior guard Blake Raab led Auburndale with 22 points. The Eagles conclude their season with a 22-5 record.

RAIN JACKETS FOR ‘MAKE IT RAIN’- Marathon Venture Academy students wore red rain jackets on Thursday to prepare themselves for the Red Raiders to ‘make it rain’ by scoring lots of baskets against Auburndale.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER