By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
On Saturday the Merrill boys basketball team traveled to Kaukauna for the Hoops Club Shootout where they played Seymour. The Jays were outscored in the first half, however were able to step up their defense in the second half to come out on top with a 76-69 victory.
In the first half the Jays scored 38 points to Seymour’s 42. Seven different players would score in the first half for Merrill, with Caleb Timm leading the team with 10. Chase Bonnell and Kordell Renken would each score seven in the half and Quinn Steckbauer scored six.
The second half of play saw Merrill score 38 points, however the Jays improved their defense after the half and held Seymour to only 27. Michael Casper had a huge second half for Merrill, scoring 14 points with 12 of them coming from three point territory. Renken scored nine more in the second half, while Bonnell and Timm would each score six in the half. Casper was the Jays leading scorer with 17 points, making five three-pointers. Timm and Renken each scored 16 points in the game and Bonnell scored 13.
Merrill will be back on the court Friday as they host Marshfield for their home opener at 7:15 p.m.