The Bluejay girls faced Valley extremes last week, meeting the state’s top-ranked and only undefeated D1 team in Tuesday’s home loss before rebounding with Friday’s 54-18 road triumph over Wausau East.
The Jays dominated East in each of the first three quarters to the tune of 14-2, 24-4 and 41-9 leads.
“I don’t know how many turnovers we forced, but it was a large amount,” MHS coach Ross Reincke said. “It was a nice game to be able to get everyone in, and we were able to work on some things. We went in with certain goals and we accomplished them.”
East hung within 13-9 in the fourth.
The Jays were boosted by Mariah Turenne (15 p, 2 r, 4 st), Starr Krenzke (4 p, 6 r, 4 st), Riley Folz (8 p, 5 r), Maddix Bonnell (6 p, 2 a, 3 st), Hannah Marrier (8 r), Morgan Marnholtz (6 p), Emily Page (4 p, 2 a), Chelsey LaMonica (2 p, 3 r), Patience Pyan (5 p), Morgan Pettit (2 p, 2 r) and Rheanna Hinz (2 p),
MHS–FG: 18-64 (28%); 3 pt: 3-21 (14%). FT: 15-21 (71%).
Top of the heap
The Merrill girls’ two-game winning streak ended on Tuesday night, but it was no surprise since they were hosting the state’s top-ranked D.C. Everest, the only remaining undefeated team in Wisconsin at 15-0.
The Jays hung within 11-6 in the first quarter and 15-14 in the fourth, but the middle periods did the damage. The Evergreens posted 18-8 and 22-10 margins to fuel the 66-38 win.
The Jays were paced by Mariah Turenne (8 p, 2 r, 3 a), Morgan Pettit (7 p, 2 r), Emily Page (5 p, 2 r), Morgan Marnholtz (4 p, 3 a), Starr Krenzke (2 p, 4 r), Maddix Bonnell (6 p), Malayna Beyer (2 p) and Rheanna Hinz (2 p).
Everest put three in double figures with Ashley Hodell (16 p, 11 r, 3 st), Taylor Petit (13 p, 5 r) and Mackenzie Mathies (10 p).
“We played well, just Everest is Everest,” MHS coach Ross Reincke. “We had a plan, the girls were upbeat and they never quit. The first game we scored 13 points all game, and this time it was 11-6 after the first quarter. I heard they have something like nine seniors on varsity and only brought one girl up from JV.”
MHS–FG: 11-48 (23%); 3 pt: 2-12 (17%). FT: 14-22 (64%).
The 5-11 Jays took their 2-6 WVC record to 6-3 Wausau West on Tuesday, then host 5-3 Marshfield on Friday.