By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

WAUSAU — The Stratford girls basketball team proved it will be in the mix for a top spot in the Marawood Conference South Division as it went on the road and knocked off Wausau Newman Catholic 52-43 on Tuesday night at Newman Catholic High School.

Stratford trailed 28-21 at halftime, cut the deficit to 36-32 after three quarters, then roughed up the Cardinals with a 20-7 advantage in the fourth quarter.

Macie Frueh made 7 of 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to help the Tigers put away the win. She finished with a game-high 16 points, Casey Kolbeck added nine points, and Marissa Cepress had eight.

Stratford (6-0 overall, 2-0 Marawood South) made 16 of 21 overall from the free throw line.

The Tigers host Auburndale (6-0, 1-0 Marawood South) in an early-season battle for the top of the conference at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The game will be broadcast on WOSQ-FM 92.3 and wdlbwosq.com.

(Hub City Times Sports Reporter Paul Lecker is also the publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com.)

Tigers 52, Cardinals 43

Stratford 10 11 11 20 – 52

Newman Catholic 13 15 8 7 – 43

STRATFORD (52): Sammy Griesbach 1 1-2 3, Macie Frueh 4 7-10 16, Brittany Bredemann 2 0-0 5, Tianna Hughes 2 1-1 6, Emily Manecke 0 0-0 0, Savannah Schillinger 1 2-3 5, Casey Kolbeck 2 5-5 9, Marissa Cepress 4 0-0 8, Andie Zuelke 0 0-0 0. FG: 16. FT: 16-21. 3-pointers: 3 (Frueh 1, Bredemann 1, Schillinger 1). Fouls: 15. Fouled out: none. Record: 6-0, 2-0 Marawood South.

NEWMAN CATHOLIC (43): Lauren Fech 4 0-0 11, Hadleigh Baumann 1 0-0 2, Caitlin Deaton 4 7-7 14, Abbey Fox 2 4-6 8, Karina McGucken 2 0-0 4, Kaley Fech 1 0-0 2, Brogan Kimball 0 0-0 0, Laura Belkee 0 1-2 1. FG: 14. FT: 12-15. 3-pinters: 3 (L. Fech 3). Fouls: 17. Fouled out: none. Record: 3-2, 0-2 Marawood South.