Beadles, Strasman post double figures in close game against Bluejays
By Jacob Heid
STEVENS POINT — The Stevens Point Area Senior High (SPASH) girls’ basketball continues their tear through conference play. The Panthers were in a fistfight with Merrill on Jan. 6, coming out with a 49-39 victory. Seniors Brittany Beadles and Lauren Strasman came up big at different moments in the win.
SPASH came out comfortable on both ends, taking an early 11-1 lead over the Bluejays. Despite losing the board battle early, the Panthers held their composure. Head coach Kraig Terpstra talked after the game about the team handling different things the Bluejays threw at them.
“I thought down the stretch we got real aggressive,” Terpstra said. “We attacked their zone a little better and their press, making plays that allowed us to kind of pull away at the end.”
After the quick start, the Panthers went on a scoring drought that lasted roughly three minutes. Merrill climbed back into the game with the help of senior Maddie Drew. Her perimeter shooting became even more trouble in the second half. Beadles countered with her own shooting, going on a 6-0 run by herself, cashing in back-to-back three’s with 50 seconds left. SPASH led 24-17 at the break. The senior finished her night with 12 points.
“Brittany is a competent, experienced player who offensively can make those plays,” Terpstra said about Beadles’ performance. “The flow of the game took the ball to her, and she did a great job of executing.”
The Panthers came out of the half able to sustain the lead with an inside game. Strasman and Jossie found a handful of points down low in the first five minutes, leading 32-24 with 12 remaining. Jossie paved the way with 13 points, with Strasman finishing with 11.
Merrill’s Drew splashed home a big three with 7:28 left, cutting the SPASH lead to two, 36-34. The two sides traded blows late, with Jossie with a potential dagger and-one opportunity with 1:28 remaining. She put the Panthers up 45-36 to that point, closing the game with a victory.
SPASH sits at 8-4 (4-0) as of Jan. 9, playing at Marshfield next on Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. First place in the WVC is up for grabs in the game.
