Neillsville Boys Stay Tied For First
Friday, January 31st, 2014 -- 9:53 PM
The Neillsville Warrior basketball stayed tied for first in the Eastern Cloverbelt after a 54-41 win over Marshfield Columbus on Friday night.Neillsville came into the game tied with Owen-Withee atop the ECC at 9-2 while Marshfield Columbus was just a 1/2 game back at 8-2.
The Warriors struggled early to get the ball inside to their leading scorer Matt Grottke, but after the Don's big man, Jacob Puent picked up two first quarter fouls, Grottke scored 10 first quarter points and 19 total in the first half including a alley-oop dunk that erupted the Fieldhouse as the Warriors led 32-21 going into the locker room at the half.
In the second half, Neillsville could not hit their freethrows in the third quarter going 0-6 from the line and they were outscored by the Dons 10-4 and Marshfield Columbus cut the lead down to 36-31 going into the final frame.
In the 4th Neillsville started to hit their freethrows, finishing 12-16 in the quarter, and the Dons saw two players foul out and Neillsville outscored Marshfield Columbus 18-10 to come away with a 13 point win.
The Don's Jared Fleischman led all scorers with 23 points while Grottke led the Warriors with 22.
Neillsville stays tied with Owen-Withee at 10-2 atop the ECC after the Blackhawks beat Colby on Friday night. Marshfield Columbus meanwhile falls to 8-3 in conference play.
Neillsville will host Greenwood on Monday night in a make-up game at the Fieldhouse and then travel to Augusta on Tuesday night and Spencer on Thursday.
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