This story is sponsored by: The University of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
AUBURNDALE – Auburndale took care of Stratford twice during the Marawood Conference South Division season, but come playoff time, it’s a whole different ball game.
The Tigers outscored Auburndale 16-9 in the first quarter and held on for a 41-38 victory in a WIAA Division 4 girls basketball regional semifinal Friday night at Auburndale High School.
Brooke Schultze poured in 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Stratford (15-9), which moves on to a Division 4 regional final at Marathon (20-3) on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Auburndale closed to within a point at 19-18 at halftime, but the third quarter proved to be the difference as Stratford outscored the Apaches 8-3 and led by six after three quarters.
Melanie Brandl had 10 points and Nicole Nikolay added nine for the Apaches (15-8).
Schultze was nearly unstoppable for Stratford, making 7 of 12 shots from the field and 9 of 15 at the free throw line.
Stratford had 11 steals and held a 24-16 rebounding advantage in the win.
Tigers 41, Apaches 38
Stratford 16 3 8 14 – 41
Auburndale 9 9 3 17 – 38
STRATFORD (41): Hannah Schmitt 1-11 1-4 3, Carrie Stroetz 1-5 5-9 9, Amanda Rindfleisch 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Schultze 7-12 9-15 25, Macie Frueh 1-4 1-2 3, Emily Hauke 1-3 1-2 3. FG: 11-35. FT: 17-32. Rebounds: 24 (Schultze 7). Record: 15-9.
AUBURNDALE (38): Mikayla Jankowski 2-4 1-4 5, Becky Willfahrt 3-6 0-2 7, Nicole Nikolay 3-6 3-5 9, Emma Steines 0-9 0-0 0, Melanie Brandl 4-8 0-2 10, Kendra Kundinger 0-2 1-4 1, Kayla Gotz 2-3 2-2 6, Shannon Yohnke 0-2 0-0 0. FG: 14-40. FT: 7-19. 3-pointers: 3-13 (Brandl 2-3, Willhaft 1-3, Jankowski 0-1, Nikolay 0-1, Kundinger 0-2, Steines 0-3). Rebounds: 16 (Nikolay 5). Record: 15-8.