Newman Catholic knocks off Stratford boys basketball, denies Tigers the Marawood South title

Stratford junior Ashton Wrensch. (Paul Lecker file photo)

This story is sponsored by: Chips Hamburgers of Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids

MarshfieldAreaSports.com

WAUSAU – Wausau Newman Catholic outscored Stratford by eight points in the second half on the strength of eight 3-pointers on its way to a 78-71 win and denying the Tigers of a share of the Marawood Conference South Division title.

Stratford led 34-33 at halftime before the Cardinals rallied in the second half behind the long ball.

Jackson Pfender made four 3-pointers in the second half as Newman Catholic outscored Stratford 45-37 to pull out the victory.

Mason Prey led the Cardinals (17-7, 12-4 Marawood South) with 21 points. Jacob Pfiffner added 16 and Connor Krach chipped in 15 in the victory.

Ashton Wrensch was 8-for-8 from the free throw line and scored 21 points for Stratford. Breaden Schueller added 20 as he also hit four 3-pointers, and Cam Daul had 13 points for the Tigers.

Stratford finishes the regular season at 20-4 and end up 13-3 in the Marawood South, one game behind Marathon, which defeated Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 59-47 to clinch the outright conference championship.

Newman Catholic will host Tri-County in a WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal on Tuesday. Stratford will be off until Friday, March 4, when it will host a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal against the winner of Tuesday’s quarterfinal between Nekoosa and Weyauwega-Fremont.

Click here to view the final Marawood South boys basketball standings

Cardinals 78, Tigers 71
Stratford 34 37 – 71
Newman Catholic 33 45 – 78
STRATFORD (71):
Braeden Schueller 6-12 4-4 20, Ashton Wrensch 6-15 8-8 21, Caden Bruesewitz 4-5 1-3 11, Devin Ulrich 0-1 0-0 0, Cam Daul 5-12 2-2 13, Kaden Griesmer 1-1 2-2 4, Brady Schmidt 0-1 0-0 0, Zack Seitz 1-3 0-0 2. FG: 23-50. FT: 17-19. 3-pointers: 8-19 (Schueller 4-6, Bruesewitz 2-3, Daul 1-4, Wrensch 1-5, Schmidt 0-1). Rebounds: 21 (Daul 5). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 20-4, 13-3 Marawood Conference South Division.
NEWMAN CATHOLIC (78): Mason Prey 7 7-8 21, Jackson Pfender 4 0-0 12, Connor Krach 6 0-0 15, Jacob Pfiffner 5 3-4 16, Isaac Seidel 4 1-1 8, Eli Gustafson 1 3-4 6. FG: 27. FT: 14-17. 3-pointers: 12 (Pfender 4, Krach 3, Pfiffner 3, Seidel 1, Gustafson 1). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 17-7, 12-4 Marawood Conference South Division.