With a last-minute shot, the boys’ varsity basketball team beat Wood by one point at home on Dec. 10. The first game of the night had been an easier victory, as the boys’ JV team got the crowd pumped with a 74-34 win against Wood.

To start the varsity game, Whitney got the tip-off and #21 Daniel Jones had the first score of the game with a three-pointer. Wood’s #23 Damontre Gidron was fouled and got a one-and-one; making one he got Wood on the scoreboard. Wood then charged scoring two layups. #10 Cameron Ripple and #32 Kyle Creighton both got layups. #2 Joe Silas got a layup. Wood player was fouled and then they brought the ball back to the net scoring a layup. The first quarter ended 13-11 Wood in the lead.

#20 Collin Hawkins and Silas both made layups for the Wildcats and with 5:43 left on the clock the Wildcats ran to get ahead. Wood made a layup with 2:54 on the clock; then Whitney pushes to get a lead. #11 Ryan McGrath made a layup with an assist from Silas. Wood #24 Khilad Harrison got a foul and got a one-and-one making one of the shots. The second quarter ended 28-23 Wood in the lead, with eight team fouls on Whitney and six team fouls on Wood.

Creighton got a layup, which Wood responded to with a two-pointer. Jones shot a two-pointer making the score 30-27, Wood in the lead. They shot two more layups and Ripple shot a three-pointer, making the score 34-30 Wood. Ripple made a three-pointer. The third quarter ended 36-35 Wood in the lead.

Ripple makes a layup to start the fourth quarter. Wood gets fouled getting two shots and missing one. Wood makes a two-pointer and gets fouled again getting two out of two shots. With 4:44 on the clock Wood Gildron makes a layup making the score 37-43.Creighton made a layup but in the process Ripple got injured and was benched for a few minutes. Creighton shot another layup and got fouled, shooting one and made it. Jones shot a three-pointer pushing the Wildcats closer to a win the score 45-47. Wood made another layup. Creighton made one last layup and the boys got prepared to gain some points to win with a time out. After running their play Ripple made the last shot of the game making a three-pointer with 8.3 seconds left, ending the game 50-49 a victory.

#30 Tony Roberts said he was disappointed that the game. Although it was a victory, it was only a one-point win.

“The first half we didn’t come out with the spark we should have, but our coach challenged us and Alex Mostad and Joseph Silas really stepped up. [They] helped bring that spark back in the later parts of the game,” Roberts said.

From the student section, Annie Jackson commented on how the game felt at the end.

“It was the most intense game I have ever been to. The crowd was going crazy the whole last quarter and by the end we all rushed on the court when Cameron made the three. It’s going to be a good season,” Jackson said.

After the game, the boys’ varsity head coach Nick French told how he felt the game went for them.

French said, ”We have a lot, a lot to work on. I’m proud though they were resilient in the second half. We got to learn a lot, to play hard, we just want to improve more.”

by ARIELLA APPLEBY