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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – The Stratford girls basketball team jumped out to a quick 10-point lead and never looked back, cruising to a 47-25 win over Tomah in a nonconference matchup Friday night at Stratford High School.
The game was the season-opener for the Tigers, while Tomah drops to 0-2.
Stratford led 13-3 after the first 8 minutes. After Tomah scored three points in a row, Stratford closed out the half with a 12-3 run and led by double-digits the rest of the way.
Andie Zuelke scored four of her game-high 16 points and Kaylee Hollatz made the Tigers’ only 3-pointer in the run that separated Stratford from the Timberwolves for good.
“I told our girls that our defense was outstanding tonight, where we faltered was at the end,” Stratford coach Tammie Christopherson said. “It wasn’t even their pressure, it was our mental (game) faltering. That’s what the first game is for, to figure those things out.”
Stratford held Tomah to just six made baskets, three of which came on successive possessions on steals and baskets by Madison Lindauer midway through the second half. The Tigers were also helped by Tomah’s poor free-throw shooting as it made just four of 18 attempts.
Senior guard Sammy Griesbach added 13 points for the Tigers, making 7 of 12 free throws, and Zuelke had 12 rebounds for the Tigers.
“I have a lot of new kids out there that are in new positions,” Christopherson said. “We’ll have a few growing pains early this season, but I have the utmost confidence that we’ll figure it out.
“We figured out the zone and I think we can have a strong post presence with Andie. We fed her a few times and the outside shooters are coming along. We have the ability to push the ball and when we did that, our whole game looks better.”
Stratford hosts Edgar for another nonconference game on Tuesday.
Tigers 47, Timberwolves 25
Tomah 9 16 – 25
Stratford 25 22 – 47
TOMAH (25): Lindsey Conway 0 0-2 0, Madison Lindauer 3 1-3 7, Emily Moake 1 2-2 4, Taylor Smith 0 0-0 0, Madisyn Brey 0 0-3 0, Abbey Wagenson 0 0-0 0, Morgan Brooner 0 0-4 0, Mallory Pierce 0 1-2 1, Brooke Brown 1 0-0 2, Morgan Wright 1 0-0 2, Emma Like 0 1-2 1. FG: 6. FT: 4-18. 3-pointers: none. Turnovers: 15. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: none. Record: 0-2.
STRATFORD (47): Olympia Garrigan 0 0-0 0, Taya Nett 1 5-6 7, Blaire Lindner 1 2-2 4, Sammy Griesbach 3 7-12 13, Olivia Burrows 1 0-0 2, Mariah Zawislan 0 0-0 0, Chelsey Gliniecki 0 1-2 1, Kaylee Hollatz 1 1-6 4, Andie Zuelke 7 2-6 16. FG: 14. FT: 18-34. 3-pointers: 1 (Hollatz 1). Rebounds: 38 (Zuelke 12). Turnovers: 17. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Nett. Record: 1-0.