This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – Marshfield girls basketball coach Heidi Michaelis did not envision having a 17-year coaching career, and surely didn’t imagine winning 300 games.
On Friday night, Marshfield made 10 3-pointers and closed the game on a 24-11 run to beat Wisconsin Rapids 75-55, giving Michaelis her 300th career victory as head coach of the Tigers.
“I remember (then Marshfield boys coach) Gordie Sisson talking to me at the state tournament after my first year,” said Michaelis, who owns a 300-99 career record that includes eight Wisconsin Valley Conference championships and four WIAA state tournament appearances. “It’s the ups and down, it’s the tears, it’s trying to figure out girls and a team. Me being as competitive as I am, the first year was a struggle.
“It’s been an amazing journey. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to appreciate the journey, where in the beginning I think it was way more about the wins. It’s something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed, seeing teams from the beginning of the year to the end and seeing them grow as a group and young ladies. I’ve been very privileged to do that here.”
Following a hard-fought loss to Stevens Point on Tuesday, the Tigers came out focused and ready to run.
Marshfield (7-9, 3-5 Wisconsin Valley Conference) took the lead for good on a basket by Jenna Jakobi at the 13:20 mark of the first half, putting them on top 9-8, and built the lead from there.
Wisconsin Rapids (6-11, 3-6 WVC) held the Tigers scoreless for 7 minutes late in the half to close to within 30-28, but Meg Bryan hit a 3-pointer with 7 seconds to go and Marshfield took a 33-28 lead into halftime.
Jakobi had a steal and layup in the opening seconds of the second half and Marshfield led by at least seven the rest of the way.
Corianne Johnson converted a three-point play, Maddie Michaelis hit a pair of 3-pointers, and Katie Osinski scored down low in an 11-6 run to pushed Marshfield’s lead to 12 at 51-39.
Kaydee Johnson hit a 3-pointer and Bryan drilled two from long range to make it 64-52 with 4½ minutes to go, and rapids would make only one more basket the rest of the way.
“I feel like we’ve played well, minus the game at Lakeland,” Heidi Michaelis said. “We’re not just finishing games. Tonight was big for us. I thought we played a solid game throughout. Rapids is a good team and they made runs, and we sustained and were able to hit back at them.”
Bryan made five of the Tigers’ 10 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points. Jakobi added 16 points and 13 rebounds, and Corianne Johnson and Osinski chipped in 11 points each in the victory.
Maddie Paitel had 16 points and seven rebounds for Wisconsin Rapids.
Marshfield hosts Merrill on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m.
Tigers 75, Raiders 55
Wisconsin Rapids 28 27 – 55
Marshfield 33 42 – 75
WISCONSIN RAPIDS (55): Ally Abbott 0-1 0-0 0, Cassidy Kohls 3-6 1-1 7, Breally Kautzer 4-11 1-2 12, Hailey Wilhorn 0-2 1-2 1, Kayla Huglen 4-10 5-6 13, Vanessa Vechinski 3-8 0-0 6, Sydney Petersen 0-1 0-0 0, Maddie Paitel 5-6 3-6 16, Kailea Ott 0-1 0-0 0. FG: 19-45. FT: 11-17. 3-pointers: 6-14 (Paitel 3-3, Kautzer 3-8, Kohls 0-1, Abbott 0-1, Petersen 0-1). Rebounds: 25 (Paitel 7). Turnovers: 16. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: none. Record: 6-11, 3-6 Wisconsin Valley Conference.
MARSHFIELD (75): Kaydee Johnson 2-2 2-2 8, Meg Bryan 7-17 1-2 20, Maddie Michaelis 2-6 0-1 6, Hannah Meverden 0-4 3-4 3, Corianne Johnson 4-5 2-4 11, Katie Osinski 5-11 1-2 11, Jenna Jakobi 7-12 2-4 16. FG: 27-57. FT: 11-19. 3-pointers: 10-25 (Bryan 5-15, K. Johnson 2-2, Michaelis 2-6, C. Johnson 1-2). Rebounds: 31 (Jakobi 13). Turnovers: 9. Fouls: 13. Fouled out: none. Record: 7-9, 3-5 Wisconsin Valley Conference.