Wildcats win in triple OT against Northwest

It took much longer than the 32 minutes of regulation basketball, but the Whiteoak Wildcats ended the 2025 calendar year with a non-conference road victory, defeating the Northwest Mohawks in McDermott in triple overtime by a 71-67 score. 

The win on Tuesday, Dec. 30 saw the Wildcats and Mohawks battle to a 47-47 score after four quarters where WHS trailed 17-7 after the first frame way played. In the ensuing eight minutes of game action, the second quarter for WHS saw them be outscored 15-5 for a halftime deficit of 32-12. 

It is a good thing games have two halves, because in the third and fourth quarters the Wildcats took their turn at being the team with the momentum. In the third, WHS rallied with a 21-12 frame, bringing them to a 44-33 score where they trailed by 11 points, Then, in the fourth quarter, the visiting Wildcats outscored the Mohawks 14-3 for the tied score at the end of regulation. 

In the first overtime, WHS and NWHS each scored six points, giving each team 53 points. At the end of the second overtime, Whiteoak and Northwest were tied at 62 points apiece. Then, in the third overtime, Whiteoak was able to break away from the host Mohawks with a 9-5 four-minute frame for the four-point win. 

The Wildcats were led by both Christopher Wessner and Brady Brandenburg with 21 points each. Wessner totaled three two-point baskets and three 3-pointers, plus he was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Wessner also added five rebounds (three offensive), three assists, one steal and one block. 

Brandenburg finished with seven two-point baskets, plus he was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. He also collected seven rebounds (four offensive), three assists and four steals. 

Sawyer Blair finished with eight points off a 3-pointer, two two-point baskets and one free-throw (1-of-3), and he added six rebounds, one assist and one block. The Wildcats also had eight points from Jason Gaskins, who sank two 3-pointers and a two-point bucket. Gaskins also had three rebounds, one assist and a block. 

Lucas Pollard totaled seven points, as the freshman made a 3-pointer, one two-point basket and was 2-of-4 from the free-throw line. Pollard also grabbed two rebounds, had two assists and one steal. Scoring six points for WHS was Carson Hart, as his points came from a two-point bucket, plus he was 4-of-6 from the free-throw line. Hart also had nine rebounds (five offensive), three assists and one steal. Zach Igo had a steal in the win. 

As a team, the Wildcats totaled 15 two-point baskets, seven 3-pointers (Pollard 1, Blair 1, Wessner 3, Gaskins 2), 32 rebounds (14 offensive), 13 assists, eight steals and three blocks, and WHS had 11 turnovers. 

The win moved WHS to an overall record of 3-4, as they are 1-3 in the SHAC Div. II standings. 

BOX SCORE
WHS       07 05 21 14 (06) (09) (09) — 71
NWHS    17 15 12 03 (06) (09) (05) — 67