Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame Night

On Jan. 18, 2025, the Merrill Basketball Program celebrated their annual 2024 Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame night at halftime during the Merrill Girls Varsity Basketball Team game against Antigo. The new 2024 inductees were: Girls player - Jessica (Van Der Geest) Truax, Boys player - Jeff Ott, and Boys/Girls Coach - John Bezier.

Jessica (VanDerGeest) Truax

Jessica (VanDerGeest) Truax played for the Merrill Girls Varsity Basketball Team from 1993-1996. In her Senior Year, she was the unanimous selection for 1st Team All-Conference and was named 4th team All State, having averaged 14.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 2.1 assists per game; she was named the Team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) and was a Channel 7 All-Star. In her Junior Year, she was named 2nd Team All-Conference and averaged 13 points and 6.8 rebounds per game; she was also named the Team’s MVP.
After graduating from Merrill High School, Truax played college basketball at Wright State University. There she was named MVP in 1998 and 2000. She was also named Raider Award winner in 1999 and 2000 and Female Athlete of the Year 2000. She was fifth in all-time free throws made in her career (310-437) and ninth for all-time rebounds with 672, and she scored 1,054 points in her career. In 2008, she was inducted into the Wright State University Wall of Fame.

Jeff Ott

Jeff Ott played for the Merrill Boys Varsity Basketball Team from 1979-1982. In his Senior Year, he was named 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. He averaged 19.9 points per game and 6.1 rebounds per game, was named Team MVP, Honorable Mention All State, and Channel 7 All-Star. In his Junior Year, he was named 1st Team All-Conference and 2nd in the Wisconsin Valley Conference. He averaged 19.4 points per game and was named Team MVP and Channel 7 All-Star. Ott scored 590 points in the Wisconsin Valley Conference, is 5th all time for Merrill, and he was the 10th all time leading scorer in Merrill with 793 points (he played when there was no 3-point shot). One of Jeff’s best memories was hitting a buzzer beater from the top of the key to beat Wausau Newman, he said.
After graduating from Merrill High School, Ott payed Junior College basketball in Texas.

John Bezier

John Bezier was recognized for his contributions as a Merrill Basketball Program Coach through the years. He served as both the Merrill Bluejay Boys and Girls Elementary School and the Junior/Middle School Coach from 1985-2020: 5th/6th grade elementary Boys from 1985-1994; 5th/6th grade elementary Boys from 1995-1998; Junior High 9th grade Boys and 8th grade Boys from 1999-2009; 7th/8th grade Girls and 6th grade Boys from 2010-2012; 6th grade Boys and 7th grade Girls from 2013-2020; 6th, 7th, 8th Girls traveling team from 2003-2006; and 6th, 7th, 8th Boys traveling team from 2006-2009. Coach Bezier also made multiple Final 4 appearances as the Coach of the 5th & 6th Grade Washington Wildcats, including back-to-back years in 1990 and 1991 with Coach Pieper as his point guard, and his team, the Washington Wildcats won the Championship in the 5th & 6th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament in 1996.

“These three inductees have left a lasting legacy on the school’s basketball programs and continue to serve as role models for athletes and fans alike,” said Merrill Boys Varsity Basketball Team Head Coach Troy Pieper.