Seniors finish 42-0 in home gym

By Casey Krautkramer

Marathon varsity boys basketball senior guard Cooper Hoeksema was in awe after hearing his head coach, Adam Jacobson, inform the team on Saturday after its 68-41 WIAA Division 4 regional home championship win against Stratford, that the team’s seniors finished their high school careers with an undefeated 42-0 home record.

“It’s not something you really think about,” Hoeksema admitted. “It really never went through my head until coach mentioned something about it. I knew that we hadn’t lost at home in a few years but I didn’t know that we never lost a home game so that’s pretty great.”

Marathon shot an impressive 52 percent from the floor against Stratford while its defense held the Tigers to only 27 percent shooting. Stratford just couldn’t get its offense going against Marathon’s tough defense.

The Red Raiders won their third consecutive Marawood South Conference championship this season and have now won two straight WIAA Division 4 regional titles against the Tigers. This was the third consecutive season that Marathon has played against Stratford in the regional championship.

Jacobson said it’s rare for a group of se-

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SHARING THE TEAM’S SUCCESS WITH ITS STUDENT FANS- Marathon senior guard Cooper Hoeksema receives his team’s WIAA Division 4 regional championship plaque and he immediately runs over to the student section so his fellow classmates can see it up close. Senior players Tyler Underwood and Nathan Huebsch were the first ones to follow Hoeksema to greet the student fans. Senior student fans pictured, from left to right, are: Jeffrey Deininger, Payton Lawrence, Jake Lepak, Luke Aschbrenner and Aiden Stanek.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER Regional title

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nior basketball players to finish their careers undefeated at home.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “As you know we have tremendous support from our community. Our players feed off the large crowd in our gym and they take pride in defending their home court, which is why I’m so proud of them and hopefully now they can play well on the road.”

Marathon improves its record to 25-1 this season while Straford ends their season with a 20-6 record. Red Raiders senior center Grant Warren achieved a double- double with a game high 24 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks. Senior wing Tyler Underwood and Warren tied for the lead with five assists each. Underwood contributed 13 points while sophomore Drew Woelfel added nine and senior Andrew Glennon had eight. Senior Henry Zaleski was the only Stratford player to reach double digits with 17 points.

Now Marathon plays against Auburndale, 22-4, in a WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal at 7 p.m. this Thursday. March 7, at Merrill Senior High School. The Red Raiders swept the Eagles during each of the last two regular seasons, but lost to them in the sectional semifinal last year. The winner of Thursday’s matchup will play in the sectional championship at 7 p.m. this Saturday, March 9, at D.C. Everest against the winner of Thursday’s other sectional semifinal between Bonduel, 25-1, and Oconto, 18-9.

The last time Marathon made it to the Division 4 state tournament in Madison was in 2018 when it finished as state runners-up to Manitowoc Roncalli. Marathon’s last state championship was in

2011.

Regional semifinal wins

Marathon fended off a pesky Colby squad in Friday’s home WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal with a 69-55 victory. Warren led the Red Raiders with 20 points, 20 rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Underwood added 18 points while making six of seven two-point shots. Sophomore guard True Thurs drained five of his nine three-point attempts to finish the game with 15 points.

Stratford defeated Washburn, 69-53, in Friday’s home Division 4 regional semifinal. Zaleski led the Tigers with 18 points. Junior guard Drew Bruesewitz added 21 points and he led Stratford with six assists and three steals. Senior guard Brady Schmidt contributed 18 points in the win.

MARATHON MOMS UNITED IN RED OVERALLS- Four mothers of Marathon varsity boys basketball players donned red overalls in the bleachers on Saturday night while watching their sons and their teammates beat Stratford, 68-41, in the WIAA Division 4 regional championship. Sons with their mothers pictured, from left to right, are: Cody Radtke (22) with Jackie Ahrens, Landon Sneider (24) with Dana Kolbe, Wilson Marks (20) with Noelle Marks and Blake Kraft (12) with Cathy Kraft.

STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER