TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Tuesday, Dec. 7, the Merrill Bluejay Boys Basketball Team hit the road to take on the Medford Area High School Raiders.
“Medford is a very solid team, a well coached team, and plays very good defense,” Bluejay Boys Basketball Coach Troy Pieper said. “At times we matched their energy, but at other times we struggled to get things going.”
The Bluejays put up 33 points in the first half, but the Raiders topped that number by 13 with a 46-point first period. In the second, another 27 points by Merrill couldn’t beat the 42 Medford put up.
#3 Bradyn Pieper (4 FG, 3 3pt, 3 FT, 1 Ast) led points scored for Merrill with 14 game points, followed by #30 Sam Reimann (3 FG, 6 FT, 1 Ast, 1 Stl) with 12 points and #35 Troy Moots (4 FG, 3 3pt, 1 Ast) with 11 game points.
“I thought Bradyn (Pieper), Sam (Reimann), and Troy (Mootz) played really well and were aggressive all night on the offensive side,” Coach Pieper said. “Bradyn and Troy shot it well from beyond the arc as well.”
“The positive is we found our shot a little bit, so hopefully that continues,” he added. “We shot the ball better; however, we didn’t take care of the ball and didn’t rebound well at all for a second straight game.”
Here’s hoping the Bluejays bring their A-game this week! With three games scheduled – against Marshfield, Antigo, and Stevens Point – it’s going to be a good time to focus on Coach Pieper’s mantra: “The 3 E’s: Energy – Effort – Execute.” They’ll need to put forth all three.
Box Score
Merrill 60 @ Medford 88