In one of the most highly anticipated games of the season, it would take a near perfect game by WCMS to knock off the undefeated Dibrell Wildcats. Both teams pulled out all the stops and despite Dibrell being down three players due to foul trouble, the Wildcats defeated the Pioneers, 32-30.
It was not the typical explosive offensive game Dibrell is used to, and despite being down 12-7 at the half, Dibrell came out of the locker room and executed its plan to near perfection. The Wildcats outscored the Pioneers in the final two periods 25-18. It was just enough to overcome the halftime deficit and claim the win.
Chance Hunter for WCMS was the game’s high scorer and he created ways to get in front of the rim. Hunter dropped in 13 points in the two-point loss.
After the halftime break, WCMS was not going to give Dibrell anything easy. The Pioneers got physical and made the Wildcats earn their points. The Wildcats shot 7-of-10 in the third quarter from the charity stripe. Five different players made trips to the free-throw line and all connected on at least one attempt. Hagen Stewart and Nathan Elrod were perfect from the line. Both players went 2-of-2.
WCMS was down but not out and the Pioneers continued to attack the basket. Eli Kuykendall and Hunter carried much of the load in the third quarter. Pioneer Layne Roberts also went 2-of-2 from the free-throw line.
The fourth quarter started and the score was locked at 18. The lead changed hands and the coaches subbed players in and out like a well-played chess match. A couple of key pieces for Dibrell fouled out and had to wait out the game from the bench.
Aaron Ashburn, who was scoreless in the first half, dropped in all nine of his points in the second half. Ashburn had four fouls and went up for the block and was whistled for his fifth. Jordan Sandlin and Stewart also had to wait out the game from the Dibrell sideline after each picked up their fifth foul.
Despite all the fouls charged against Dibrell, WCMS struggled from the free-throw line. The Pioneers went 3-of-11 down the stretch in the final quarter.
In the closing moments Cameron Chilcutt for Dibrell was fouled on his way to the basket. The whistle sounded and the shot dropped for Chilcutt. He completed the three-point play and helped cement the win for Dibrell.
WCMS had one last-ditch effort and needed to get the ball down the entire floor with 4.5 to play. The ball was inbounded to Kuykendall and he sped up court and fired a shot just after he crossed the half-court line. It did not fall and Dibrell remained unbeaten by a final score of 32-30.
WILDCAT SCORING – Nathan Elrod 10, Aaron Ashburn 9, Cameron Chilcutt 7, Hagen Stewart 5, Jordan Sandlin 1
PIONEER SCORING – Chance Hunter 13, Layne Roberts 8, Hudson O’Conner 4, Eli Kuykendall 3, Keldrick Cox 2