By Hub City Times staff

MARSHFIELD – Both Marshfield boys basketball teams have rematches with opponents from earlier this year, as the WIAA playoffs continue this week with sectional semi-final action. The Marshfield Tigers and Columbus Dons advanced after winning regional championship games March 3 in Marshfield.

The Marshfield Tigers beat Medford 69-42, to claim a Division 2 Regional Final Championship at Marshfield High School. The Tigers had four players in double figures, led by Seth Anderson with 14. Brant Bohman scored 13, Anthony Posteluk had 11, and Tommy Olson added 10.

Tigers’ coach Scott Scheuer called the regional title “a nice reward that not everyone gets to take advantage of.” Scheuer said the Tigers “defended well and played with a lot of energy. Overall, we did a really good job defensively.”

The Tigers’ offense wasn’t bad either. Marshfield went on a 16-0 run to jump out to a comfortable lead early.

Marshfield (13-11) will face Merrill in a Division 2 sectional semi-final March 8 at 7 p.m. at Wausau East High School. The Tigers beat the Bluejays in two close games during the regular season in Wisconsin Valley Conference competition. Marshfield is headed to the sectional round of the postseason for the fourth time in the last five years.

The Columbus Dons defeated Wild Rose 74-54 in a Division 5 Regional Final at Columbus Catholic High School on March 3. The Dons had five players score in double figures, led by Noah Hansen with a season-high 18 points. Jarred Mandel scored 15 on five three-point baskets, Noah Taylor had 12, Nick Malovrh scored 11, and Ethan Meece finished with 10.

“We got hot, and those five first-half threes (Mandel) really kind of set the tone and expanded a lead for us,” said Dons’ coach Joe Konieczny after the win. “I’m happy with our effort and our defense was pretty outstanding, and the overall intensity was what we needed in a regional final.”

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Rapids Assumption defeated Almond-Bancroft 56-46. That win sets up a rematch between Columbus and Assumption. The Royals won the first matchup 58-43 at the Cranberry Classic Tournament at Assumption High School last November.

Columbus (22-2) plays Assumption (20-5) March 8 at 7 p.m. in a Division 5 sectional semi-final at Lincoln High School in Wisconsin Rapids.