Jays top Strafford (Rebroadcast Available)

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By Mark Eddlemon

The Marshfield Blue Jays put the clamps on visiting Strafford High School Monday night, posting a 67-34 nonconference basketball victory.

Senior guard Kelby Phelps led the Blue Jays scoring with 25 points as Marshfield improved to 6-2 on the season. Phelps, a 5-10 point guard, made 7-of-13 field goals, including 4-of-6 treys, in the game with five rebounds, five assists and a blocked shot. Phelps scored 7 points in the first period as Marshfield jumped in front 17-11 after one quarter. He added 8 points in the second period to help Marshfield extend the lead to 30-20 at intermission.

“I challenged the guys at halftime, and they responded,” Marshfield coach Tom Stokes said. “They really played well defensively in the second half.”

The Blue Jays allowed just 2 Strafford field goals in the third period, taking a 53-25 lead.

“We like to get up and down the court a lot,” Stokes said. “But we’ve been able to hold our opponents down with good defense the last couple of games.”

Senior Justin Jones added 17 points to the winning attack, hitting 6-of-12 field goals and 5-of-8 free throws in the game. Justin Jones also had a game-high 10 rebounds with 3 steals, 2 assists and a blocked shot.

Nathan VanDiggelen had a solid outing for Marshfield, scoring 2 points, with 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists.

Alex Bartow scored 6 points for the Blue Jays with a rebound and a steal. Cameron Keenan added 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists to the winning attack. Justin Drane scored 4 points with 2 rebounds and 2 steals for Marshfield. Charlie Williams added 2 points, 2 blocked shots, 2 rebounds and an assist to the Jays efforts. Jason Young scored two points with a steal, Jordan Jones had a steal, an assist and a rebound and Dwayne McCroskey handed out an assist for Marshfield.

Freshman Conner Wilson scored 6 points for Strafford with 3 rebounds and a pair of steals. Trevor Yarberry finished with 7 points and 4 rebounds for the Indians. Tyler Robertson and Nick Davis each scored 5 points for Strafford. Derek Wilson finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot for the Indians. Caleb Barnum and Austin King each scored 3 points for the visitors.

Marshfield returns to action Thursday night by hosting Camdenton.