Whiteoak gains 2nd consecutive win; defeats Manchester
Hosting the Manchester Greyhounds Friday night, the Whiteoak Wildcats defended their home court in Southern Hills Athletic Conference play, defeating the visitors, 72-63.
The win on Dec. 22 saw the Wildcats lead 19-17 at the conclusion of the first quarter, an eight-minute span of play where Weston Blair made three baskets for six points, plus Brady Brandenburg scored five points off two baskets and a free throw.
The first-quarter scoring for Whiteoak also included Zander Roades going 4-of-4 from the free-throw line, while Zack Igo and Sawyer Blair each made a basket for two points apiece.
WHS added 15 more points to their scoring total in the second frame, while Manchester scored 10 points for a halftime score of 34-27 in favor of the host Wildcats.
Whiteoak’s 15-point second quarter included five points from Roades, as he made a 3-pointer and two-point bucket. WHS also had six points from Weston Blair off two baskets and two made free-throw attempts. Brandenburg scored three points in the quarter, and Aiden Crowe made a free throw.
The Wildcats outscored Manchester 15-8 in the third frame, and in that quarter WHS had 10 points by Weston Blair as he collected those points off four two-point field goals and two made free throws. Brandenburg scored four points in the third frame, and Sawyer Blair made one free throw.
In the fourth frame, WHS exploded for 23 points, but Manchester won the quarter scoring battle with 28 points in the final eight minutes.
For WHS in the fourth quarter, Tyler Wessner made two 3-pointers and two two-point baskets, Weston Blair scored four points, Sawyer Blair scored four points, Zander Roades had another 4-of-4 free-throw performance in a quarter and Crowe made one free throw.
In all for WHS, they finished with 21 two-point baskets, three 3-pointers and were 21-of-27 from the free-throw line. The Greyhounds finished with 15 two-point baskets, five 3-pointers and were 18-of-24 from the free-throw line.
Whiteoak’s leading scorer was Weston Blair with 26 points, as he finished the SHAC win with 10 two-point baskets and a 6-of-7 performance from the free-throw line.
Roades finished with 13 points as he was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, plus he added one 3-pointer and one two-point basket. Brandenburg totaled 12 points off five two-point baskets and two converted free throws on two attempts.
Also for WHS, Wessner totaled 10 points with two two-point baskets and two 3-pointers. Teammates Sawyer Blair finished the game with seven points, while Igo and Crowe both ended the game with two points apiece.
Manchester was led in scoring by Conner Darnell with 26 points and Braylan Roberts with 13 points.
The win sends the Wildcats to an overall record of 3-3 for the season, and they are 3-0 in the SHAC Division II standings. Manchester moves to 6-4 overall and 2-3 in the SHAC.