After a five-game losing streak, the girls celebrate a win

PATIENCE PYAN and TINA L. SCOTT

The Wausau West Girls Basketball Team brought their A game to Merrill on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, but the Merrill Girls Basketball Team was also ready to defend their home court. The score went back and forth for a while, before West took a decent lead on the Bluejays. Towards the end of the first half, the Bluejays cut the lead down to single digits and went into halftime down by nine points. The second half was back and forth, as well, and the girls got it down to trailing by just three at one point in the half, but West battled ahead again. Both teams played a great game, but in the end, Wausau West came out on top, with a seven-point advantage. Mia Ott led the Lady Jays, scoring 23 points, followed by Alayna Pozorski with 6 and Addy Schmeltzer with 5.
Box Score
Wausau West 53 @ Merrill 46

The Merrill girls traveled to Northland Pines on Dec. 13 for a non-conference match-up. The Lady Jays came ready to play and, after a brief 2-2 tie at the beginning of the game, they took the lead and kept it. The energy was awesome this game and the girls needed this one to boost their confidence back up after losing five straight games. The Bluejays dominated in just about every category with a higher field goal % (36.9), higher free throw % (71.4), more transition points (14), and higher points off turnovers (19), and the Bluejays also out rebounded the Eagles 48-33.
And the highlight of the game? Everyone on the team scored! The Bluejays were led in scoring by Mia Ott (13 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast), Sophie Wendorf (13 pts, 6 reb, 2 def) and Prayla Pyan (10 pts, 6 reb, 2 stl) as they racked up the points for an ecstatic win.
Box Score
Merrill 67 @ Northland Pines 40