Jared Schmeltzer
Reporter
The Merrill girls basketball team started their season with a tight match up against the Shawano Hawks on Tuesday, Nov. 19. The Lady Jays traveled to Shawano where they put up a good fight, trailing by only one at halftime, however eventually losing by a score of 51-45.
In the first half of action the teams went blow for blow, trading baskets and the lead throughout. Despite Merrill’s effort Shawano came out of the first half with a slim 20-19 lead over the Jays.
The second half of action saw the Hawks extend their lead and hold on for the win. Merrill would put some nice runs together and take a brief lead in the second half, howveer could not sustain it as Shawano won 51-45.
Merrill’s leading scorer for the game was Courtney Krueger with 14 points. Krueger also totaled six assists, three rebounds and a steal. Merrill’s other top performances include Ashley Prebeg with 10 points, seven rebounds, one steal and one block and Reese Mrachek with eight points, two assists and two steals.
The Jays will now have a bit of a gap in their schedule, as they won’t see the court again until Dec. 10, when they travel to Wausau West for a battle with the Warriors.