Merrill Varsity Girls take two out of three in busy basketball week

It was a busy week for basketball, with the Merrill Varsity Girls Basketball Team playing three fast-paced games between Tuesday and Saturday. By week end, the Bluejays emerged victorious in two out of three of the games.

Bluejays secure a strong team win over Antigo in home return
Playing their first home game since the Christmas break, the Merrill Girls Varsity Basketball Team put on a clinical performance Tuesday night, Jan. 13, 2026, defeating the Antigo Red Robins 50–36.
The victory was defined by a balanced offensive attack and a selfless approach to the game. “The girls did a great job sharing the basketball tonight,” the coaching staff noted, pointing to a box score that saw eight different players find the hoop.
Leading the way for the Bluejays were the Clerveaux sisters, who combined for 18 points (10 and 8 respectively), and Farije Kiskoski, who added 9 points of her own. Five other players chipped in to round out the scoring, making it difficult for the Antigo defense to focus on any single threat.

While the first half was a battle, the Bluejays broke the game open after the intermission. The team returned to the court with a renewed defensive intensity, stifling Antigo’s offense and turning stops into transition opportunities.
The game was ultimately iced at the charity stripe. In what was their best performance of the season from the line, the Bluejays shot an impressive 79%, knocking down 19 of 24 free throws to protect their lead and finish the game strong.
Box Score
Antigo 36 @ Merrill 50

Lakeland’s fast start stifles Bluejays

Looking to build on the momentum of a big win earlier in the week, the Merrill Girls ran into a buzzsaw Friday night, Jan. 16, as the Lakeland T-Birds used a physical interior presence to secure a victory on the Bluejays’ home court.
Lakeland set the tone early, attacking the paint and creating high-quality scoring opportunities. Their activity on the offensive boards proved to be a deciding factor, limiting Merrill’s transition chances and keeping the Bluejays on their heels for much of the night.
The offensive rhythm that defined Tuesday’s win was harder to find on Friday. While the team fought for opportunities, the shots didn’t fall as consistently, and the team struggled to find their stride against a surging Lakeland defense.
The struggles extended to the charity stripe, where the Bluejays were unable to replicate their previous elite shooting, finishing the night 7 of 21 from the free-throw line.
Despite the difficult night offensively, there were bright spots in the individual effort. Grace Reimann led the scoring for Merrill with 7 points, while Brenna Jirovec battled hard in the trenches, leading the team with 7 rebounds.
Box Score
Lakeland 43 @ Merrill 26

Bluejays bounce back for Hall of Fame Night win
The Merrill Girls wrapped up their week with a gritty bounce-back win on Saturday, Jan. 17, defeating Three Lakes 57–43 in front of an energized home crowd, for an exciting Hall of Fame Night.
Coming off a quick turnaround from Friday night, the Bluejays initially struggled to find their footing. Early turnovers led to a sluggish start, allowing Three Lakes to take an early lead. However, the momentum shifted midway through the first half as Merrill cleaned up their execution and locked in defensively.

“We started a bit slow and weren’t giving ourselves a shot on the offensive end due to turnovers,” the coaching staff noted. “But about halfway through the first half, we really started to play cleaner, and the defensive effort from every girl who stepped on the floor was the difference.”
That defensive spark ignited the offense. As the Bluejays began forcing stops and getting out into the open court, their confidence grew. The team began sharing the ball effectively, hunting for the best shots and shooting with a rhythm that had been missing just 24 hours prior.
It was a true team effort, with several players stepping up to deliver key individual performances when the team needed them most. Leading scorers were Grace Reimann with 20 and Keira and Kaela Clerveaux with 10 points apiece.
Box Score
Three Lakes 43 @ Merrill 57