‘Jays endure tough stretch of games

By Casey Krautkramer

It’ll be tough for the Athens varsity girls basketball team to still win the Marawood North Conference title this season after getting swept by Phillips. Athens lost, 63-47, in the teams’ second matchup on Thursday in Athens. The Bluejays also lost to the Loggers in the teams’ first matchup earlier this season in Phillips.

Phillips only has one Marawood North Conference defeat this season, which was in a Marawood crossover game at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption. Athens plays at undefeated Wisconsin Rapids Assumption this Thursday, Feb. 1. The Royals are still ranked No. 1 in this week’s wissports. net Division 5 coaches poll.

Thursday’s game featured two Wisconsin Sports Network Senior Awards defense semi-finalists in Jazelle Hartwig of Athens and Kacy Eggebrecht of Phillips. Both of them play at the top of their teams’ 1-3-1 defense that allows them to steal the basketball for layups.

Eggebrecht scored a game-high 20 points for Phillips while senior Sophia Coker led Athens with 17 points and three blocked shots. Jazelle Hartwig added 12 points and she paced the Bluejays with 12 rebounds. Sophia Coker added 10 rebounds in the loss. Sisters Jazelle and Sy’Rih Hartwig led Athens with six steals each.

Athens edged Emery, 59-55, on Saturday in the Northwest Challenge in Somerset. Sophia Coker scored a game-high 31 points and she also led Athens with 10 rebounds. Athens improves its record to 12-7 overall this season.

Stratford girls down Edgar

Stratford’s varsity girls basketball squad upended Edgar, 53-33, on Thursday in Edgar to sweep the regular season series against the Wildcats. Freshman guard Carly Pankratz led Stratford with 15 points and sophomore center Tria Tubbs added 12 points. Senior guard Taylor Lemmer led Edgar with 14 points.

Edgar blasted Rosholt, 54-19, in Monday’s non-conference road game. Senior Morgan Streveler led the Wildcats with 13 points and junior Emery Borchardt added 12. Edgar improves its record to 9-9 overall this season.

Stratford lost a tough home game on Tuesday to Bonduel, 42-32. The Bears jumped out to a 32-14 halftime advantage but the Tigers clawed their way back in the second half to only lose by 10 points.

Bonduel’s defense stifled Stratford’s offense. No Tigers player reached doubledigit scoring against the Bears. Senior Ashley Hollatz led Stratford with eight points.

Bonduel is ranked No. 5 in this week’s wissports.net Division 4 poll. Stratford’s record falls to 10-10 overall this season while Bonduel improves to 18-2.

Raider girls drop pair of games

Marathon’s varsity girls basketball team on Thursday fell to Newman Catholic, 3732, on the road. Sophomore Emma Love led the Red Raiders with 12 points.

The Red Raiders also lost on Tuesday to the Stevens Point Pacelli Cardinals, 61-37, on the road. Marathon’s individual player statistics were not available before the newspaper was printed.

Marathon now has a 5-14 overall record this season.

PUSHING THE BALL DOWN THE COURT- Athens senior Jazelle Hartwig dribbles the basketball while her sophomore teammate, Ava Ford (3), runs down the basketball court to get into position on offense during Thursday’s 63-47 home loss to Phillips.

PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER