Wellston pulls out a big victory at home
By: Coleman Bacon
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WELLSTON, Ohio (WOUB) — The Wellston Rockets (17-4, 10-2) welcomed in the Northwest Mohawks (13-8, 7-3) for a district quarter-final showdown. Both teams were looking to get a staple win and momentum to carry on through the rest of tournament play. Early on the defense looked to be the trend with both teams locking their respective offenses down. However, Wellston was able to break through in the second half and steal the momentum, never giving it back to the Mohawks. With the Rockets pulling out the win in front of a packed crowd, 64-44.
Coming into tonight, the Rockets were looking to win their first district quarter final since 2012 in front of their packed home crowd, but the Mohawks were striving for an upset and to put the Wellston hype train on hold. Early on the game was a defensive battle going blow for blow.
In the first quarter, the defense stole the show with the first basket of the game not coming until the four-minute mark with both offenses trying to figure each other out. The Rockets’ Braxton Ingalls broke the ice with a spin move jumper. Northwest made a point to stop the dominant Rockets offense and forced Wes Briggs into two early fouls. They forced Wellston into turnovers and capitalized in transition finishing the quarter with the score 12-9 Wellston.
Going into the second, the offenses started to establish themselves. Wes Briggs started to get hot from beyond the arc, and Justin Jackson stepped up with 14 points by the end of the quarter. The Mohawks weren’t going to be intimidated by this push and struck back with some baskets and key stops of their own. However, Briggs hit a big three to end the half to extend the lead 28-22, Rockets heading into the locker room.
Jumping to the third, Wellston looked to carry their momentum on offense. Northwest tried to reestablish themselves and try to get back into this game. However, Wellston was able to get pressure on defense and capitalize on key mistakes from the Mohawks. Midway through the third, a technical foul was called on the Mohawks, and the Wellston crowd went crazy. Flipping any Northwest momentum on its head. At the end of the quarter, Wellston was still up, 41-33.
Starting the fourth, Northwest wasn’t ready to give up. However, the Wellston offense was just too much to handle, with Briggs and the Rockets getting into a groove, and with the hometown crowd behind them, there was nothing the Mohawks could do. More turnovers and mistakes became the ultimate demise of the Mohawks. The Rockets were able to capture a dominant victory and send Northwest home empty handed, 64-44.
The Northwest Mohawks finish the season with a record of (13-9, 7-3).
The Wellston Rockets will hope to carry their momentum as they look forward to March 4, at the Convocation Center in Athens, as they will be taking on the Chesapeake Panthers.