By Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
On Friday night the Merrill girls basketball team hosted Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln in a Wisconsin Valley Conference showdown. It was a tight game throughout, however the Jays outlasted the Raiders for 47-42 win.
Neither team was able to build a significant lead in the first half, as the lead changed hands a few times. Merrill would eventually take a 22-20 lead into the halftime break. Merrill was led in the first half by the scoring of Courtney Krueger who had eight points.
The second half was similar to the first half with neither team being able to pull away from the other. Each Merrill scoring run would be matched by Rapids, however the Jays would gain a little seperation and hold on for the 47-41 victory.
Krueger led Merrill in scoring for the game with 14 points to go along with her three rebounds, three assists and three steals. Claire Drew had a solid night, finishing with nine points and five rebounds. Reese Mrachek ended her night with nine points, four rebounds and a block. Dalie Thomas would round out the Jays leading performers with seven points, three assists and two steals.
Merrill will be back on the court on Thursday as they travel to Stevens Point for a conference match up with the Panthers, starting at 7:15 p.m.