Waterford cruises past rival Fort Frye for second win
By: Luke Viviano
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WATERFORD, Ohio (WOUB) – The Waterford Wildcats improved to 7-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play with a 63-42 win over hometown rival Fort Frye on Tuesday night.
pointer from Reese Lang and a midrange jumper by Weston Fairchild closed the first quarter and gave Waterford a 17-6 lead.
After the teams traded 3 pointers to open the second quarter, Waterford went on a 7-0 run to extend the lead to 16, forcing a Fort Frye timeout. Lang stayed hot from beyond the arc, finishing the half with 19 points after shooting 4-7 from 3-point range.
Fort Frye struggled with ball security and rebounding in the first half, committing six turnovers and losing the rebounding battle 16-10. The Cadets were unable to establish an offensive rhythm and trailed 33-12 at halftime.
Fort Frye applied full-court pressure to start the second half, briefly disrupting Waterford’s offense, but the Wildcats adjusted quickly and capitalized on fast-break opportunities. Grady Hesson scored five quick points for Fort Frye before exiting after picking up his fourth personal foul.
The teams traded baskets for much of the third quarter, but Waterford maintained control and entered the fourth with a 46-25 lead. Gavin Heiner recorded two blocks during the stretch, while Fort Frye continued to struggle on second-chance opportunities.
After breaking the press with ease in the third quarter, Waterford encountered more resistance early in the fourth as Fort Frye forced two consecutive turnovers. Caden Henniger provided a spark for the Cadets, scoring 12 of his team’s points in the final quarter.
Waterford regained its composure with just over three minutes remaining. Lang hit back-to-back 3 pointers, followed by a pair of baskets inside, to put the game away.
Lang finished with a career high 34 points, shooting 6-7 from the field and 7-14 from 3 point range. His seven 3-pointers tied the school record for most in a single game.
Waterford remains home to close out the week, hosting Eastern on Feb. 5 and Athens on Feb. 7.