By Robert Whitmire

The SPASH boys basketball team spotted Marshfield a 10 – 1 lead early before storming back to pull out a 71-60 win over Marshfield Tuesday night.

The Panthers remain atop the Wisconsin Valley Conference with a 6 – 0 record. Marshfield drops to 3 – 3.

Trailing 31-25 at the half, the Panthers kicked their game into high gear after the break with Joey Hauser, the game’s leading scorer scorching the nets with 29 points. Drew Blair added 19 points for the Panthers.

The junior guard is averaging 22.1 points per game on 55 percent shooting from the field including 48 percent from beyond the three point arc.

“Coach Anderson told us at halftime that we had to get in the gaps on defense to stop their drives to the basket,” said Keon’te Williams.  

“Coach told us to go out and play the second have with intensity and get some stops and that is what we did,” Blair said.

With the win, the Panthers have now put together a string of 45 straight victories. The Panthers return to action Thursday, Jan. 26 at D.C. Everest. Game time is 7:30 PM before traveling to Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln on Tuesday, Jan. 31 for a 7:45 PM tilt as part of a girls-boys basketball doubleheader.

The junior varsity won 60 – 45 led by Evan Vollendorf’s 12 points. Nolan Blair added 11 with nine points each from Travis Johnson and Brett Ehr.

SPASH Scoring:

Varsity: Joey Hauser 29; Drew Blair 19; Beau Rosenthal 7; Drew Cullen 7; Keon’te Williams 6; Andrew Erdman 3.
JV: Evan Vollendorf 12; Nolan Blair 11; Travis Johnson 9; Brett Ehr 9; Elliot Eron 7; Michael Vitt 7;
Darren Zwicker 2; Joe Bergquist 2; Braden Christophersen 1.