Stratford girls basketball clamps down in second half to defeat Rib Lake

The 2023-24 Stratford High School girls basketball team. (Submitted photo)

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MarshfieldAreaSports.com

RIB LAKE – The Stratford girls basketball team held Rib Lake to two made field goals in the second half and were able to scratch out a 41-33 road win at Rib Lake High School on Thursday in a Marawood Conference crossover game.

The game was tied 22-22 at halftime before the Tigers were able to clamp down defensively and held Rib Lake to just 11 points in the second half.

Stratford made 11 of 22 free throws in the second half to hold on.

Carly Pankratz scored 16 points, going 8-for-13 at the free throw line, and Tria Tubbs had another double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds as Stratford improves to 13-10 overall and 10-5 in the Marawood South.

Avery Niemi had 13 points to lead Rib Lake (7-14, 4-11 Marawood North).

Stratford finishes its regular-season and Marawood South schedules at home against conference champion and undefeated Wisconsin Rapids Assumption next Thursday, Feb. 15. Brackets for the upcoming WIAA playoffs, which begin Feb. 20, will be released on Sunday.

Stratford 41, Rib Lake 33
Stratford   22   19   –   41
Rib Lake   22   11   –   33
STRATFORD (41):
Kayla Casperson 0 1-3 1, Laney Pankratz 1 2-4 4, Carly Pankratz 4 8-13 16, Kassedey Downey 0 0-0 0, Emily Zuelke 0 0-0 0, Ashley Hollatz 4 1-2 9, MyKayla Stueber 0 0-0 0, Tria Tubbs 3 5-8 11. FG: 12. FT: 17-30. 3-pointers: none. Rebounds: 32 (Tubbs 12). Fouls: 15. Fouled out: none. Record: 13-10, 10-5 Marawood Conference South Division.
RIB LAKE (33): Tahlia Scheithauer 0 1-2 1, Madi Blomberg 0 0-0 0, Emma Tlusty 0 1-2 1, Avery Niemi 5 1-2 13, Kiana Dallmann 1 2-3 4, Josie Scheithauer 2 0-2 5, Addison Gumz 3 1-2 8, Tessa Weik 0 1-2 1. FG: 11. FT: 7-15. 3-pointers: 4 (Niemi 2, J. Scheithauer 1, Gumz 1). Fouls: 19. Fouled out: none. Record: 7-14, 4-11 Marawood Conference North Division.