It wasn’t a pretty game, but the Almond-Bancroft Eagles clawed up a 64-33 win over the Wild Rose Wildcats in a Feb. 25 boys’ basketball make-up game at Wild Rose just the same.
Both teams missed many shots which otherwise could have gone in but didn’t for whatever reason, but Almond did get on the board first with a free throw from Xander Miner. It took some time to build up a 9-0 Eagle lead, ending on a bucket from Miner, before Wild Rose got on the board with a bucket from Jonah Williams.
Brett Wilbert went on to cut the deficit, 7-11, with two scores including a 3-pointer, but it was quite the challenge for the hosts as the visitors started making more of their shots. The Wildcats were down 24-7 behind 9 of Ayden Phillips’ 11 points in the first half, 6 points from T.J. Lamb, and 4 points from Dalton Omernick before Wilbert drained two more 3’s. The half ended on a 3 from Williams, but the Eagles led 26-16 with 13 fouls being split between the teams.
Phillips put up the first score in the second half to extend Almond’s lead, but Wilbert sliced into the Wild Rose deficit with two 3-point shots, 22-28. From that point on the Eagles didn’t have much trouble expanding on their lead.
Phillips went on to gather in 7 more points, with Lamb producing 9 points including a 3-pointer for Lamond. Brody Dernbach put up 8 points including a 3-pointer, while Clarence Pratt contributed 5 points including a 3, Miner 4 points, and Omernick 3 free throws to stay well out front.
Four points from Logan Erdman, a 3-point shot from Williams, and a couple smaller contributions weren’t going to be enough to keep Wild Rose from taking a 64-33 loss.
Almond’s six scorers were sparked by Ayden Phillips’ 20 points, and TJ Lamb’s 15, going 4-6 at the free throw line and hitting a 3-point shot. Brody Dernbach gathered 8 points including a 3-pointer, while Clarence Pratt, Dalton Omernick, and Xander Miner gathered 7 points each, with Pratt hitting a 3.
The Eagles recorded 11 of 25 free throws, three 3-point goals, and 12 fouls in the game.
Wild Rose’s five scorers were sparked by Brett Wilbert’s 18 points based on five 3-point goals. Jonah Williams gathered 8 points including two 3-point goals. Logan Erdman contributed 4 points. The Wildcats recorded seven 3-point goals, 2 of 6 free throws, and 17 fouls.
