FOR HUB CITY TIMES

MARSHFIELD – On Dec. 9, the Marauders of Marshfield and Huskies of Wausau squared off in a battle of UW-Stevens Point branch campuses in Marshfield. 

Neither team started the game lighting up the scoreboard, but it was the Marauders’ defense that was suffocating the Huskies. The Marauders built a 16-6 lead in the first seven minutes. The Huskies were able to find the bottom of the net on a few three pointers over the next six minutes, closing the gap to 22-16, while the Marauders continued to struggle from the field. In what would turn out to be a stretch of runs by both teams, Marshfield’s Owen Hanson and Prince Nde were able to get hot, leading the Marauders out to a 35-23 lead with 1:30 left in the first half. A costly turnover at the end of the half and back-to-back three pointers by the Huskies made it a 37-31 game at halftime. 

The second half continued to see each team make small runs back and forth, but it was the Marauders who made the most of those runs. Hanson was able to continue dominating inside, and when he wasn’t scoring he was finding the open teammate. Nde found the bottom of the net on a couple of outside shots. The Huskies made one last effort to get back in the game after again hitting multiple outside shots, but Marshfield’s Sam Everson put that fire out quickly with six points on three straight possessions. From there the Marauder defense held the Huskies to just two points, which came from a pair of free throws, over the last 4:30 of the game. The Marauders came away with a huge conference win over the rival Huskies, 77-62. 

Owen Hanson (Marshfield) led the way with 24 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. Prince Nde (Woodbury, MN) followed that up with a season-high 18 points and 9 rebounds. Sam Everson (Menasha) added 12, while Jake Skroch (Stratford) finished with 9 points, 12 rebounds, and 8 assists.

The Marauders could not carry over the momentum of the win over Wausau in back-to-back losses on the road.

On Dec. 11, the Marauders traveled to UWP-Baraboo to close out conference play for the first semester. Marshfield suffered a tough 85-74 loss.  

The Marauders were back on the road Dec. 13, taking on Gogebic Community College in a non-conference battle to close out the semester. The Samsons handled Marshfield, 101-81.

The Marauders are now 3-5 on the year and 3-2 in conference play. They have three consecutive home games to open the second semester. Marshfield will host Wausau Jan. 3 and Concordia University WI JV on Jan. 4, before a visit by Baraboo on Jan. 8. All games begin at 6:15 p.m.