By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

MARSHFIELD — A week after playing its worst game of the season, a 10-point home loss to a then one-win Wisconsin Rapids, the Marshfield boys basketball team has found its groove.

The Tigers won two games at the Big Rivers-Wisconsin Valley Conference Challenge in Superior during winter break and four out of five games overall heading into Friday night’s home game against Wausau West.

The past two Fridays, in wins over Merrill (60-46) and Wausau East (61-44), the Tigers played their best games of the season, according to first-year head coach Scott Scheuer.

“I have guys that haven’t played basketball, three guys that weren’t on the team last year, and very little varsity experience,” Scheuer said. “I tell them, ‘That’s over now. That’s done. Grow up. Handle the ball. Get tougher mentally and physically. That’s it.’ We’re starting to get there.”

Marshfield moved to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in the Wisconsin Valley Conference after the win over East, which had just one loss in its first 10 games to start the season.

The Tigers were efficient offensively, making 20 of 47 shots and nailing 13 straight free throws at one point in the second half to maintain a double-digit lead.

Senior forward Adam Fravert has been the catalyst for the Tigers, posting four straight double-doubles, including 27 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Merrill on Jan. 8.

Fravert is averaging 16.7 points per game overall, and five others average between 7 and 9 points per game, including Tyson Slade, Grant Michaelis, Ethan Voss, Ethan Posteluk, and junior point guard Alec Hinson.

“We move around really well, find the open man, and we’re really unselfish as a team,” Fravert said. “It’s helping us out a lot. We need to work on our offense, work a little better under pressure, and be more intense on defense.”

The game against West ends the first half of the WVC schedule for the Tigers, who, with a win, would get back to the .500 mark in conference.

In order to build on their recent success over the second half, Scheuer said Marshfield must be strong with the ball.

“We have to be efficient on offense,” Scheuer said. “They (East) played a little token press on us, and we threw the ball away. That can’t happen. Teams like Stevens Point and D.C. Everest, they make you pay for that with six points, nine points, or some free throws, and over and over again.”

Paul Lecker is publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com, a contributor to Hub City Times Sports. You can reach him by email at [email protected].

Upcoming Tigers schedule

Jan. 22 home versus Wausau West

Jan. 26 at Eau Claire North

Jan. 29 home versus Stevens Point

Feb. 2 at Wisconsin Rapids

Feb. 5 at Merrill