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By Paul Lecker

Sports Reporter

Columbus Catholic remains unbeaten in Cloverbelt East

Marshfield Columbus Catholic improved to 8-0 in the Cloverbelt Conference East Division with a resounding 79-41 win over Colby on Jan. 19 at Columbus Catholic High School.

The Dons (11-2 overall) rolled out a 53-14 lead by halftime on their way to the victory.

Nick Malovrh scored 24 points and Jarred Mandel added 13 for Columbus, which had 11 different players score in the win.

Columbus outlasted Neillsville 72-60 on Jan. 16 at home behind 23 points from Malovrh. Noah Taylor had 11, and Ethan Meece and Bryce Fuerlinger each had 10 in the win.

The Dons raced out to a 40-20 lead by halftime and held off multiple runs by Neillsville before closing out the victory by making 10 of 14 free throws in the final 5:54.

Spencer blasts Granton

Spencer held Granton to 31 percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers in a 72-34 victory on Jan. 19 at Granton High School.

Collin Nieman scored 22 points, and Austin Bacon and Nate Karau each had 14 points for the Rockets (6-5, 5-4 Cloverbelt Conference East Division).

Spencer held a 49-33 rebounding advantage and outscored the Bulldogs (0-10, 0-8 Cloverbelt East) 13-3 at the free throw line.

The Rockets edged Colby 76-72 on Jan. 15. Jack Bezlyk had 31 points and 14 rebounds for Spencer.

Auburndale wins twice

Auburndale won a pair of games to keep pace with Marathon and Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, for first place in the Marawood Conference South Division.

The Apaches whipped Wausau Newman Catholic 72-46 on Jan. 16 and Chequamegon 83-26 on Jan. 19 to improve to 11-3 overall and 8-2 in the Marawood South.

Fletcher Raab made 7 of 8 3-pointers and scored 23 points in the victory over Newman. Cameron Ertl added 15 points, Colten Yeske scored 14 on 6 of 7 shooting, and Cooper Weinfurter had team-highs with five rebounds and seven assists for Auburndale.

Against Chequamegon, the Apaches shot 62 percent overall and were 10 of 18 from 3-point range. Cale Jacoby had 14 points, and Weinfurter, Yeske and Ertl each added 13 in the victory.

Stratford splits pair in Marawood

Stratford overcame a tough shooting night, with a strong defensive performance, and defeated Abbotsford 63-40 in a Marawood Conference crossover game on Jan. 19 at Stratford High School.

The Tigers shot just 35 percent (24 of 67) and were only 4-for-23 from 3-point range, but held Abbotsford in check on their way to the victory.

Benjamin Barten had 17 points and 14 rebounds, which included 7 of 10 at the free throw line, and Okley Wrensch added 10 points for Stratford (11-3, 7-3 Marawood South).

The Tigers lost at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 54-49 on Jan. 16. Branden Ackley made four 3-pointers and scored 12 points for Stratford.