Varsity Girls suffer three losses on the road

Merrill falls to Florence in road contest
Florence, which entered the game with just two losses on the season, was pushed to the limit in a hard-fought road win over the Merrill Varsity Girls Basketball Team on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2026. The final score was 50-43.
After a slow start that saw the home team fall behind 23-8 midway through the first half, the girls responded with strong defensive stops and timely scoring to cut the deficit to 26-14 at halftime.
“That momentum carried into the second half as the team continued to make stops and convert on the offensive end, eventually tying the game at 39-39 late in the half and briefly taking a 41-39 lead,” said Merrill Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach Joelene Hanig. “The game remained tied into the final minutes before Florence connected on a couple key shots and sealed the win at the free-throw line.”
Shooting proved to be a challenge, as the team finished 2-of-14 from three-point range and attempted nine free throws compared to Florence’s 20.

Kaela Clerveaux (16 pts, 8 reb) led the way for Merrill, while Grace Reimann (7 pts), Brenna Jirovec (7 pts, 14 reb), and Darby Bonnell (7 pts) also contributed.
Box Score
Merrill 43 @ Florence 50

Merrill falls to Mosinee
In the early game of a Friday night doubleheader at Mosinee on Jan. 30, the Merrill Girls fell to the Indians 63-35.

“Mosinee, which has been playing well as of late, created challenges early, and the first half was marked by uneven play on both sides,” Hanig said. “Turnovers and shooting struggles limited offensive rhythm, and the team trailed 22-6 at halftime.”
The second half continued to be a defensive battle, with neither team able to establish consistent flow. Through hustle and effort, the girls were able to cut into the deficit, closing the gap to 31-20 midway through the half.
“Strong defensive pressure forced Mosinee into missed shots and turnovers, allowing the team to stay within striking distance,” Hanig said.
However, in the final seven minutes, Mosinee’s pressure proved to be the difference.
“Turnovers led to transition baskets as Mosinee finished with 28 points off turnovers, many coming late in the game,” Hanig said.
Kaela Clerveaux (7 pts) and Grace Reimann (7 pts) led the team, while Brenna Jirovec (6 reb) also contributed.
Box Score
Merrill 35 @ Mosinee 63

Tomahawk overtakes Merrill on the road
The Merrill Girls dropped a road contest at Tomahawk on Thursday, Feb. 6, falling 44-32 in a low-scoring, physical matchup.

“The first half was an uncomfortable one for both teams, as scoring was hard to come by,” Hanig said. “Defensive pressure and missed opportunities on both ends kept the pace slow, but the girls were able to grind out a slim 16-13 lead heading into halftime.”
Tomahawk found its rhythm in the second half, however, outscoring the girls 31-16 after the break.
“The Hatchets did most of their damage at the free-throw line and in the paint, capitalizing on second-half opportunities to pull away,” Hanig said. “Despite several attempts to regain momentum, the girls were never able to establish a consistent offensive flow, finishing the night shooting 26 percent from the floor.”
Each time the girls showed signs of building momentum, Tomahawk responded with timely baskets to keep control of the game.
Grace Reimann (12 pts) led the scoring effort for Merrill, while Kaela Clerveaux (9 pts) also contributed in the loss.
Box Score
Merrill 32 @ Tomahawk 44