Hardwood Heroes
Waterford girls take down Federal Hocking in prime time conference matchup
By: Charlie Ihlenfeld
Posted on:
(Stewart, OH) – WOUB The defending girls state champions, Waterford Wildcats, came into Thursday night’s competition against the hosting Federal Hocking Lancers in great fashion.
It was a rainy and windy walk to the gym for everyone involved, and set the tone for the match.
Waterford came out the races guns blazing, making the correct plays left and right. This was the tone for all of the first quarter, as the Wildcats showed no mercy to the Lancers.
Key players included Avery Wagner, who posted a double-double on the night, getting 11 boards and 12 points.
Other players such as Laykyn Jones and Madison Hiener both put up double digit points, with Jones posting 13 points and Hiener posting 12.
Waterford posted a very impressive 15-0 scoreline at the end of the 1st quarter, and continued that momentum all throughout the first half, as the score favored the Wildcats, 35-4.
Physicality was the name of the game for the Wildcats on the night, and they did not let up in the slightest. The Lancers could not keep up with the constant pressure on passes, steals, and rebounds, and that showed on not only the scoreboard, but on the stat sheet as well, amassing a team total of 34 rebounds, 13 assists, and 6 steals.
Waterford only gave the ball up 6 times on turnovers, as well as maintaining the Lancers attack all night long.
It was the same old story in the second half for the Lancers. Rebounding was the biggest problem for them all night, as they could not box out and match the physicality that the Wildcats presented.
Struggles would continue in the 3rd quarter for Federal Hocking, as they faced a 49-8 scoreline at the end of the quarter, mounting an almost impossible comeback.
The hill was indeed too tough to climb on the night for the Lancers, as they fell to Waterford 52-15. Federal Hocking goes to take on conference foe, Belpre, in their next matchup on Monday night.