Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
The Bluejay girls bounced back from Tuesday’s loss to league-leading D.C. Everest by running away from Wausau East in a home double-header with the boys team.
Merrill turned a relatively close game into a blow-out with a 19-0 run from late in the first half into the halfway point of the second half. The Jays reached a 63-19 lead nearly three minutes before the 9:00 remaining point with a 40-point lead that turns on the running clock.
The girls built a 46-19 lead in the first half of the contest, then put away a 70-24 game with a 24-5 second half.
“The girls have been working very hard on their full-court press and half-court defense,” commented head coach Ross Reincke. “It was great to see some of the results tonight. It was very nice to see all of the names in the scoring column this week. Now it’s time to get ready for a very strong Wausau West team this Friday.”
EAST: 19 – 5 – 24
MERL: 46 – 24 – 70
Statistics-Maddix Bonnell (11p, 2r, 2st); Patience Pyan (9p); Lindsey Casper (8p, 2r) Anna Finnel (8p, 7r).
Edged by Everest
What looked to be a promising start to a possible upset in Tuesday night’s showdown with perennial powerhouse D.C. Everest, took an unexpected turn in the second half resulting in a heartbreaking 55-45 loss.
The ladies hung with the fast-paced Evergreens through the first half and managed a relatively comfortable 29-26 at the intermission.
The second half took a whole different look, as the Greens got a 13-point jump on the ladies for the win.
“We led at the half but had some foul trouble and turnovers later on, which we don’t normally have,” Reincke said. “As a group, we did a great job at breaking their press, but this is definitely a game the girls want back. They’re ready to get another crack at them. Patience shot very well, as did Maddix, who had another solid game all around. It’s nice to see that sort of consistency and to have sophomores stepping up to play with the seniors.”
MER: 29 – 16 – 45
DCE: 26 – 29 – 55
Statistics-Patience Pyan (16p, 3a, 2st); Maddix Bonnell (9p, 2r, 4a, 5 st); Lindsey Casper (6 p); Anna Finnell (6p, 4r, 2a)