Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
There’s little doubt to the fact of the Merrill girls basketball squad having their game on this year. Not many teams have come even close to slipping past the ladies, especially in the unforgiving atmosphere of the MHS Fieldhouse. In fact, a majority of those who have tried have come away with dire consequences.
Not much changed on Saturday when the Jays welcomed the LaCrosse Logan Rangers.
Merrill wasted no time in going to work on their guests, outgunning Logan 26-12 in the first and held off the Rangers in the second for a decisive 49-35 win.
“The girls really came out hard and gave a solid effort,” commented coach Ross Reincke.
“We got a 20-plus point lead on them. They came back on us, but we came back on a run at the end to win it.”
LGN: 12 23- 35
MRL: 26 23- 49
Scoring: Maddix Bonnell (14p, 9r, 3a); Lindsey Casper (10p, 3r, 4a); Malayna Beyer (6p); Morgan Pettit (4p, 8r).
Melee with Mosinee
Mosinee paid dearly in the wake of their visit to the field house Friday.
Once again, the ladies in blue came out of the blocks locked and loaded, en route to a comfortable 29-23 first-half lead. The second half would prove to be all Merrill as the Jays cut loose with an artillery barrage which would culminate with 38 points on the board and an overpowering 67-38 win.
“This was a huge win for us in more ways than one,” Reincke said.
“They knocked us out of the playoffs last year, so it was great to come back on them. It was also an all-around solid game for the entire team. Offensively, we shot very well and had great ball movement. Emily Page and Morgan Pettit had big nights with 11 points each. Maddix had another great performance with 19 points and Rylee Folz was very solid with 10 points. We did very well defensively, also. Our communication on the court was great. It was just a great overall team effort!”
MOS: 23 15- 38
MRL: 29 38- 67
Scoring: Bonnell (19p, 10r, 7a); Emily Page (11p, 9a); Pettit (11p, 5r); Rylee Folz (10p, 4r); Casper (6p, 3a).