Preview: Merrill Vandals vs. Ashley Bears
Merrill is 10-0 against Ashley since February of 2019, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Merrill Vandals will head out on the road to face off against the Ashley Bears at 7:00 p.m. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Merrill scored the most points they've had all season to find success on Friday. They blew past Carson City-Crystal, posting a 50-14 victory on the road. That looming 50-14 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for Merrill yet this season.
Ashley posted their biggest win yet this season on Monday. They took their game on the road with ease, bagging a 50-10 win over Akron-Fairgrove. The win was just what Ashley needed coming off of a 66-24 loss in their prior contest.
Ashley's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Marissa Brady led the charge by scoring 15 points along with seven steals and five rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Brady has scored all season. Karissa Brady was another key contributor, scoring 14 points along with five rebounds and two steals.
Merrill's victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 5-6. As for Ashley, their victory bumped their record up to 3-7.
Merrill was able to grind out a solid win over Ashley in their previous matchup back in December of 2023, winning 39-29. The rematch might be a little tougher for Merrill since the team won't have the home-court advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
