2/2 - SHS vs. Memorial – 61 – 40 (W)

Every fan of Stratford’s JV Boys team had this date marked on their calendars. Appointments rescheduled, more dinnertime conversations, rides to school all entailed conversations about this rematch. The earlier start time required parents to leave work early, change into game time attire and arrive to the game ready to cheer on the team. Missing two of their teammates, the Spartans appeared cool and collected.

The game started slow and tepid, like everyone was waiting to see what would happen. It felt like two boxers, circling one another trying to find their opponents weaknesses and not revealing too much of their strategy. The first quarter ended with the Mustangs holding a slim 10 – 9 lead over the Spartans. That would be the only quarter the Spartans scored in single digits.

It is often said that Spartan warriors never retreated, and never surrendered and would fight to the ‘death’ if required. Thank goodness, it did not come to that but the Spartans laid down the gauntlet as they started the second quarter.

The second quarter saw the Spartans start to play their game, efficient shooting and lockdown defense led to 18-point outburst while holding the Mustangs to 11 points, on their way to a 27 – 21-halftime lead.

The second half of the contest saw the Spartans continue to increase their lead over the Mustangs by outscoring the Mustangs 34 – 19. The Spartans came out victorious with a 61 – 40 defeat of their cross-town rivals when the final buzzer sounded. 

Game stats:

• Wes Wohlfart – 14 pts, 7 rebs, 3 assists, 2 steals
• Heayden Daly – 12 pts, 4 rebs, 3 assists, 1 steal
• Will Meadows – 10 pts, 2 rebs, 1 steal
• Payton Sarrat – 7 pts, 2 rebs, 1 assists, 4 steals
• Jake Brand – 7 pts, 2 rebs, 2 assists
• Will Messer – 6 pts, 4 rebs, 1 assist, 1 steal
• Hunter Jones – 2 pts, 4 rebs, 2 assists, 1 steal
• Jason Kaiman – 2 pts, 2 rebs, 1 steal
• Joshua Yu – 1 pt. 1 assist, 1 block
• Kamari Stanfill – 3 rebs
• Wes Stallings – 1 reb
• Ethan Kling – DNP
• Travis Dunwoody – DNP

2/5 – SHS vs Cy-Creek – 76 – 60 (W)

The cold below freezing start to Saturday morning, should have been an indication of what was about to “go down” in the Cy – Creek gymnasium. As the Cougars tried to overcome the well-trained attack force they were being pummeled with the Spartans continued reigning down points and creating defensive barriers to prevent them from scoring.

The match began with the Spartans outscoring the Cougars 21 – 11 to end the first quarter. With each team, scoring 15 points in the second quarter the Spartans still held a 10-point lead at halftime, 36 – 26.

The second half of the contest, turned into a battle of wills, physically and mentally. The intensity of the game increased which led to some hot heads but the Spartans victory was never in question, and sportsmanship ‘won’! The Spartans used the emotional intensity to have their highest scoring quarter of the game 22 points to the Cougars 17 points and ended the 3rd quarter with a 58 – 43 lead. The closest scoring quarter was the 4th when the Spartans scored 18 and the Cougars scored 17, and the game ended with the Spartans victorious with a 76 – 60 win.

Game stats:

• Wes Wohlfart – 16 pts
• Will Messer – 12 pts
• Payton Sarrat – 12 pts
• Jake Brand  7 pts
• Will Meadows – 7 pts
• Kamari Stanfill – 7 pts
• Heayden Daly – 5 pts
• Josh Yu – 4 pts
• Ethan Kling – 3 pts
• Travis Dunwoody – 2 pts

The Spartans march on in district play with two games this week. We look forward to seeing you in the stands, as we wind down the season. Only three more games left!

Wednesday 2/9 vs Northbrook @NHS 5:30 pm (regular start time)

Saturday 2/12 vs. Cy – Ridge @ SHS 10:30 am