Stratford boys basketball pulls past Owen-Withee to win home tournament opener

Stratford senior Henry Zaleski. (MarshfieldAreaSports.com file photo/Paul Lecker)

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STRATFORD – The Stratford boys basketball team overcame a sluggish first half to down Owen-Withee 54-46 in its opening game at its home Stratford Holiday Tournament on Thursday night at Stratford High School.

The Tigers trailed 20-19 at halftime before outscoring Owen-Withee by nine in the second to pull out the win and improve to 7-2 this season.

Stratford did much of its damage at the free throw line, making 22 of 29, helping it overcome a 14-for-35 shooting night from the field.

Brady Schmidt had 14 points, and Drew Bruesewitz and Henry Zaleski each had 13 for the Tigers.

Stratford will play Wausau East (8-2) in the tournament championship game at 7 p.m. Friday. Lakeland and Owen-Withee will play in the consolation game at 5:30 p.m.

Tigers 54, Blackhawks 46
Owen-Withee 20 26 – 46
Stratford 19 35 – 54
OWEN-WITHEE (46):
Statistics not reported. Record: 5-3.
STRATFORD (54): Caleb Wrensch 1-1 1-2 4, Alec Chapel 0-3 6-6 6, Reid Miller 0-3 0-0 0, Jett Schoenherr 2-3 0-1 4, Drew Bruesewitz 3-8 6-6 13, Payton Glenn 0-1 0-0 0, Henry Zaleski 5-10 3-7 13, Kaden Foster 0-0 0-0 0, Brady Schmidt 3-6 6-7 14. FG: 14-35. FT: 22-29. 3-pointers: 4-14 (Schmidt 2-5, Wrensch 1-1, Bruesewitz 1-4, Chapel 0-1, Zaleski 0-1, Miller 0-2). Rebounds: 19 (Wrensch 4, Chapel 4, Zaleski 4). Fouls: 16. Fouled out: none. Record: 7-2.