This story is sponsored by Forward Financial Bank
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Marathon held a big advantage at the free throw line and it proved enough to top Stratford 52-45 in a Marawood Conference South Division girls basketball game Friday night at Stratford High School.
Marathon opens up a full one-game lead over idle Wausau Newman Catholic in the Marawood South standings, improving to 10-1 in conference play and 15-3 overall. Stratford falls to 13-5 and 6-4 in the conference, eliminating it from the championship race.
Marathon made 21 of 32 free throws, including 12 of 18 in the second half, to pull away from the Tigers.
Stratford, on the other hand, was just 7 of 20 at the free throw line. The Tigers were only 1 of 8 in the first half on free throws, allowing Marathon to take a 25-16 lead at halftime.
Chelsey Gliniecki had a career-high 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Stratford as leading scorer Andie Zuelke was held to three points.
Stratford plays a nonconference game at Wittenberg-Birnamwood on Monday.
Raiders 52, Tigers 45
Marathon 25 27 – 52
Stratford 16 29 – 45
MARATHON (52): Stephanie Draeger 1 6-9 8, Karly Fischer 1 4-5 6, Alysha Stieber 1 2-2 5, Rhianna Sweno 1 0-0 2, Elizabeth Boehm 2 0-0 4, Olivia Ziebell 0 0-0 0, Katelyn Schmidt 3 1-5 7 Brooke Balz 0 5-6 5, Amanda Kind 6 3-5 15. FG: 15. FT: 21-32. 3-pointers: 1 (Stieber 1). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 15-3, 10-1 Marawood Conference South Division.
STRATFORD (45): Taya Nett 1-2 1-7 1, Blaire Linder 2-4 2-4 7, Sammy Griesbach 4-10 0-2 8, Brooke Peterson 0-0 0-0 0, Olivia Burrows 0-2 0-0 0, Chelsey Gliniecki 9-15 0-3 18, Kaylee Hollatz 1-5 3-3 6, Andie Zuelke 1-4 1-1 3. FG: 18-42. FT: 7-20. 3-pointers: 2-6 (Linder 1-1, Hollatz 1-5). Rebounds: 24 (Gliniecki 11). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Gliniecki, Hollatz. Record: 13-5, 6-4 Marawood Conference South Division.