By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARATHON — Marathon jumped out to a seven-point lead after the first quarter and held on to defeat Auburndale 64-55 in a Marawood Conference South Division boys basketball matchup Tuesday night at Marathon High School.

Marathon led 17-10 after the first quarter and pushed its lead to 44-31 after three quarters on its way to the victory. The Raiders clinch the Marawood South championship with the win and remains perfect at 18-0 overall and 10-0 in the conference.

Matt Nikolay made five 3-pointers and scored 24 points for the Apaches (11-6, 6-4 Marawood South).

Isaac Barber had 23 points, and Ethan Seubert scored 22 for the Raiders.

Auburndale hosts Northland Lutheran on Friday.

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

Raiders 64, Apaches 55

Auburndale 10 12 9 24 – 55

Marathon 17 13 14 20 – 64

AUBURNDALE (55): Jake Lewis 5, Matt Nikolay 24, Caleb Weinfurter 3, Bryan Gehrke 3, Alex Marth 5, Matt Lang 8, Josh VanShoick 7. FG: 16. FT: 16-23. 3-pointers: 7 (Nikolay 5, Weinfurter 1, Gehrke 1). Record: 11-6, 6-4 Marawood South.

MARATHON (64): Xavier Lechleitner 7, Zach Rihn 8, Preston Wirkus 4, Ethan Seubert 22, Isaac Barber 23. FG: 21 FT: 16-21. 3-pointers: 6 (Seubert 3, Barber 2, Rihn 1). Record: 18-0, 10-0 Marawood South.