Mercer leads most of game but falls to Granite Diggers

MERCER, Wis. — Mercer led most of the game, but Mellen came out on top 68-64 Monday night in Indianhead Conference boys basketball.

Mellen took a late lead, 64-61, but Mercer’s Alex Schmidt responded with a 3 to tie. Mellen got a steal on its press and took the lead with a basket. The Tigers missed a wide open 3 for the lead and Mellen got another basket before the horn.

Mercer missed guard Kobe Hiller when he fouled out with more than 3 minutes left.

Schmidt led Mercer with 34 points.

He played a “heck of a game,” Aaron Luse played nearly the whole game and helped shorthanded Mercer, and Tristin Woolf (13 points) also played very well, Mercer coach Adam Miller said.

Trevor Beach scored 20 of his 29 points in the second half for Mellen.

Mercer (1-2, 0-1) hosts Bayfield Thursday night.

Mellen — Luke Lazorik 6, Brady Mesko-Jokinen 7, Trevor Beach 29, Owen Jokinen 8, Blaze Smith 11, Blake Evensen 2, Luke Zakovec 4, Daniel Heinzen 1. FTs: 9-15. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Jokinen. 3-pointers: Beach 2, Smith 1.

Mercer— Baylie Huybrecht 6, Tristin Woolf 13, Aaron Luse 2, Kobe Hiller 9, Alex Schmidt 34. FTs: 14-36. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: Hiller. 3-pointers: Schmidt 3, Huybrecht 2, Hiller 1.

Mellen 24 68

Mercer 33 64