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Varsity Boys Hoops: After two losses, Boys secure victory to close the week

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On Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, the Merrill Varsity Boys Basketball Team traveled to DC Everest to play a challenging game that ultimately resulted in a Bluejay loss.
“It was another night where we showed we can play with the top-tier bigger teams,” said Merrill Boys Varsity Basketball Head Coach Troy Pieper. “Everest is a very good team, and we had our chances tonight, and probably should have pulled this one out if we executed a little better at times in the second half, but credit Everest for executing better at the end and making their free throws.”
“We talk all the time about the four 4’s— the first and last 4 minutes of each half,” he said. “We lost three of the four tonight. We started down 9-0, and we didn’t rebound well and gave too many second chances down the stretch of the first half that put us in a double digit deficit at the half.”
“We fought back though and didn’t let up and took the lead in the second half,” Pieper said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the guys for not giving up. Other years when playing at Everest and they get up double figures, it would snowball into a worse deficit, but the guys did their job of not flinching and won the second half but just didn’t win it by enough.”
“I thought Tyson Ott was really impressive tonight,” he said. “He was aggressive all night and really looked confident out there all night. He was also playing with a little stomach bug so it’s even more impressive when you add that element to the night.”
Box Score
Merrill 51 @ DC Everest 59

On Friday, Jan. 17, the Merrill Boys played a home game against Marshfield and suffered a second loss.
“Marshfield is one of the best in the state of Wisconsin for a reason,” Pieper said. “They are just a well-oiled machine, and we came out a little flat and off tonight, and when you do that against a team like Marshfield, it’s going to be a rough night.”
“I thought Cooper Wendorf gave some really good minutes,” he said. “He looked confident and aggressive on both ends of the floor and took care of the ball really well against a very good defensive team.”
“The only thing about humble losses like this,” Pieper said, “Is thankfully we get to play the next night to get the taste out of our mouth.”
Box Score
Marshfield 73 @ Merrill 34

On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Merrill Boys did exactly that, playing a victorious home game against the Antigo Red Robins for Merrill’s Hall of Fame Night.
“You never know how you will respond playing back-to-back games,” Pieper said. “And especially coming off of a loss like the night before, but the guys responded well and came out and set the tone early and often. Our defensive energy was back after not quite having it Friday. I was very happy how everyone flew around tonight.”
“It was probably our best night efficiently on offense as well,” he said. “We really did a great job of making the extra pass and taking great shots all night. At times this year we take shots way too early in the possession, but tonight we really did a nice job of moving the ball and getting the defense moving and getting great shots both against their man defense and their 1-3-1 defense.”
“We had four guys finish in double figures, and two finish with 8 and 9 points,” Pieper said. “It was a well-balanced attack tonight. I liked seeing Kory Page get going again; he’s been the focus of other defenses lately and it’s frustrated him a little, but tonight he was patient, stayed out of foul trouble, and had a very nice controlled aggressiveness. He can score in so many ways; when he’s playing like he did tonight and creating opportunities for everyone, we are a very dangerous team.”
“I thought Aidan Houghton might have had his best game of his career,” he said. “And when you look at the box score, you will only see three points and only four shots taken, but he was locked in all night on both ends. He was attacking the boards and showing his athleticism all night. He finished with 10 rebounds, 4 of them offensive boards which is like adding 4 more possessions for us, and he was everywhere on defense, had a highlight block of a 3-point shot, and he was making the extra pass and creating for his teammates adding 4 assists. He just was everywhere tonight. It’s not all about scoring and doesn’t always show in the box score, but we are at our best when we are doing all the little things, and I thought Aidan showcased that tonight.”
Box Score
Antigo 57 @ Merrill 77

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