By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
On Friday night at 7:15 p.m. the Merrill girls basketball team will open their playoff push, hosting the winner of Tuesday night’s (Feb. 20) game between the Rhinelander Hodags and Comets of Waupaca. The Lady Jays finished their regular season with a record of 13-8 and went 6-8 in conference play, good enough for the number four seed in their regional and a first-round bye.
Should the Bluejays win on Friday, they would play again Saturday, potentially facing top-seeded Hortonville, whose Friday matchup will be either Medford (8 seed) or Mosinee (9 seed). The Bluejays’ state tournament hopes ended last year with a 56-53 sectional loss to Hortonville, who went on to win the sectional championship.