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STRATFORD – The Stratford girls basketball team stayed close with state-ranked Athens for the first half, but the Bluejays proved too strong in the second, pulling away for a 58-36 victory in a Marawood Conference crossover game Friday night at Stratford High School.
Athens, ranked third in this week’s Wissports.net Division 5 state coaches poll, led 27-23 at halftime before holding Stratford to just four made baskets and 13 points in the second to earn the 22-point win.
Stratford is now 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Marawood South, while Athens improves to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the Marawood North.
Addison Lavicka made 9 of 13 free throws and scored a game-high 21 points for Athens, which finished 21-for-36 overall at the line. Jazelle Hartwig added 18 points in the win.
Lauren Kraus had 16 points and nine rebounds for Stratford, which shot just 26 percent (13-for-50).
Stratford will play a nonconference game at Loyal on Tuesday.
Bluejays 58, Tigers 36
Athens 27 31 – 58
Stratford 23 13 – 36
ATHENS (58): Addison Lavicka 6 9-13 21, Addyson Zettler 0 0-0 0, Bailey Hanke 0 0-0 0, Celina Ellenbecker 1 2-7 5, Jazelle Hartwig 6 6-6 18, Sophia Coker 2 2-2 6, Sydney Coker 2 1-2 5, Danica Diethelm 1 0-0 2, Alonna Haines 0 1-2 1. FG: 18. FT: 21-36. 3-pointers: 1 (Ellenbecker 1). Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Lavicka. Record: 7-0, 5-0 Marawood Conference North Division.
STRATFORD (36): Allison Lindner 2-12 0-0 4, Ella Heidmann 0-4 0-1 0, Lily Yoder 0 0-0 0, Mercedes Kramer 0-0 0-0 0, Tessa Berg 2-5 2-3 6, Lauren Kraus 5-6 4-5 16, Bailey Linzmaier 2-11 0-0 5, Sailor Kauffman 1-5 0-0 2, Lexie Christopherson 0-6 0-0 0, Ashley Hollatz 1-1 0-0 2, Daisy Yoder 0-0 1-2 1. FG: 13-50. FT: 7-11. 3-pointers: 3-16 (Kraus 2-3, Linzmaier 1-3, Heidmann 0-1, Kauffman 0-2, Lindner 0-3, Christopherson 0-5). Rebounds: 31 (Kraus 9). Fouls: 22. Fouled out: Christopherson. Record: 3-2, 2-2 Marawood Conference South Division.