Sports

Waterford and Eastern Pike gave all the grit and effort you’d expect from a district championship game but ultimately, the Wildcats’ depth gave them gave them the edge in a 78-72 grudge match.

Right out the gate it was clear that brain, not brawn, would be needed to take home the title. Luckily for the fans at the Convo, this was a battle of two of the smartest coaches in Southern Ohio. Coach Tom  Simms of Waterford’s answer to the Eagles’ stiff 3-2 zone, was to drive and dish to shooters Tyler McCutcheon and Travis Pottmeyer, who provided consistent scoring early.

However, Eastern’s Tom Barrick did his homework, and broke down the Wildcats’ defense with patient, lengthy possessions. The two-brilliant strategies resulted in at 16-16 stalemate at the end of the first quarter.

The Wildcats and Eagles continued trading blows into the second quarter. McCutcheon would drop a three pointer from the locker room to which the Eagles would respond by going coast to coast down the Wildcats’ throat. After 4 lead changes the half finally ended on a Pottmeyer three. The Wildcats went into the locker room up by only one. To which the look on their faces could only be described by one word – motivated.

The Wildcats would come out for the second half fired up and ready to clip the Eagles’ wings. McCutcheon who was a sharpshooter in Nikes all day long, welcomed the Eagles out their locker room with another deep three pointer. That shot would ultimately usher in a 14-4 Wildcat run.  Eastern star guards, the Leist brothers Evan and Ethan kept the Eagles in the fight by putting up 41 points combined. But the depth of Waterford wore down the Eagles and role players such as Jordan Welch, Bryce Hilverding and Isaac Huffman started to feast.

The Wildcats started the fourth quarter up by six and kept a death grip on their lead. The Eagles continued to scrap, and play suffocating defense but with that came foul trouble and the

Wildcats, true to their fundamentally sound ways, went 12 of 14 in the twilight of the championship battle. At the end, mutual respect was gained but the defending TVC-Hocking champs would add another belt around their waists. The Eagles proved their programs’ legitimacy but the chemistry and double digit figures from five different Wildcats proved to be too much.

Waterford looks to continue their winning ways against Grove City Christian Tuesday at 6:15 at the Convo, while the Eagles fantastic season ends at 20-6.