Boys Varsity Basketball battles it out against Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln

TINA L. SCOTT

EDITOR

The Boys Varsity Basketball game on Tuesday, Jan. 5, against Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln was a hard-earned win, despite Merrill having the home court advantage. #21 Jake Zelinski put up 22 points (7 FG, 5 3pt, 3 FT, 1 ast, 1 stl) followed by #2 Nathan Woller who put up 10 of the winning points (2 FG, 6 FT, 1 ast); #5 Bailey Turenne scored 8 points (3 FG, 2 3pt, 2 ast, 1 stl).

“It was a gritty win,” Coach Troy Pieper said. “Our defense won this game in the second half, and without one of our starters; and with Nate Woller playing with a sore ankle, we needed other guys to step up, and Jake Zelinski removed the lid for us with a couple big threes in the second half.”

“We just struggled to get shots to fall in the first half, but our defense only giving up 25 in the 1st half kept us within striking distance,” Pieper said. “Our defense took it to another level in the 2nd half, allowing just 19 while making up for a 13 offensive performance in the first half with 37 points in the 2nd half.”

Pieper recognized three players who stepped up to a challenge. “The play by Isaac Sutton, Cayden Diels, and Timmy Handlin on the defensive side of things was huge for us,” he said. “Those three really gave their best player fits all night ... those three were excited for the challenge and they did their job.”

Box Score

Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln 44

@ Merrill 50