Fast start, strong finish push Merrill past the Raiders

MEDFORD GIRLS BASKETBALL

The Medford Raiders got off to a rough start, settled down and made a game of it, but then eventually ran out of gas in a 6242 non-conference loss to Merrill in their season opener at Raider Hall on Nov. 22.

The Blue Jays scored 24 of their points at the free throw line and got 19 more off Medford turnovers while never trailing in the contest. Sophomore guard Mia Ott had a fantastic night for the Jays, scoring 26 points and getting some key steals and shots in the second half to help put the game away.

Medford, playing without senior guard Bryn Fronk who was on an outof- town family trip, got a career-high 21 points from Brooke Rudolph and the first varsity points from several players as they worked out some game-one jitters under new head coach Chad Fronk.

One of the best things Fronk saw in the loss was his team dig out of an early 14-3 hole. Merrill quickly pounced on Medford miscues and misses to seize early control, but midway through the half, the young Raiders started to slowly but surely gain confidence and aggressiveness possession by possession and got back in it.

Rudolph scored six of Medford’s first seven points, Breanna Kraemer scored inside, then Rudolph hit two more shots, including a 3-pointer to pull Medford within 17-14 with eight minutes still left in the first half. Ott, though hit four of six free throws and senior post Prayla Pyan scored inside and added two free throws to push Merrill’s lead back to 11 before the Raiders made another push.

Madison Clarkson got her first point on a free throw with 5:03 left, then Rudolph scored on an offensive putback and Ella Daniels hit a baseline jumper off a Clarkson dish. After a Merrill timeout, Medford got a defensive stop and a Clarkson hoop to get within 25-21, but that bucket was answered by a bankedin 3-pointer by Maddie Drew. Freshman Rylee Hraby countered for Medford with her first varsity 3-ball and Rudolph drove the baseline to answer an Ott score to keep Medford within 30-26 at the half.

Rudolph scored off an inbound play to cut the lead to two to start the second half and Rudolph made two free throws at the 15:12 mark to make it a one-possession game at 33-30, but that’s where Merrill started to create separation.

Ott hit two free throws and drove left for a score and Maddy Ott added five points in the decisive 12-2 run that opened up a 45-32 lead. Mia Ott delivered two 3-point daggers down the stretch that pushed the lead close to 20, which it hit in the final minute.

Alayna Pozorski had 13 points, while Maddy Ott and Pyan scored eight apiece for Merrill, who improved to 2-0 at the time.

Medford got six points on two 3s from Hraby, five points from Clarkson, a late 3-pointer from Aliyah Pilgrim, three points from Toryn Rau and two apiece from Daniels and Kraemer.

Rudolph pulled down 13 of Medford’s 41 rebounds to complete a double-double. Kraemer had six boards, Rachel Wesle had five and Hraby grabbed four. Clarkson led Medford with three assists. Pilgrim and Rau had two each. Hraby had two steals.

Medford shot 31.5% from the field (17 of 54) compared to Merrill’s 27.9% (17 of 61). But the Blue Jays shot 34 free throws compared to Medford’s 11.

Medford gets a tough start to Great Northern Conference play Friday when they visit pre-season favorite Lakeland at 7:15 p.m. Things won’t get any easier on Tuesday when they head to defending WIAA Division 2 sectional champion Menomonie for another 7:15 p.m. tip time.