
WAVERLY HOLDS OFF CANDOR, 55-51, IN SEASON OPENER
By: Tim Taylor | Waverly Athletics | February 10, 2021 | Photo courtesy Cathy Doane
CANDOR — Waverly coach Lou Judson wasn’t sure the basketball mathematics
added up for his Wolverines in their 55-51 season-opening win over
Candor here Wednesday night, but he’ll take the 'W.'
“It was a
sloppy game,” said Judson. “We committed too many turnovers, we were
3-for-23 shooting 3s, and 16-for-30 from the free-throw line. You add
all that up, and we were lucky to get a win.
“We played a good
first quarter, but didn’t play very well in the second quarter,” noted
Judson. “It was kind of an up-and-down game for us.
“A lot of my
guys got a lot of minutes tonight, and it was their first varsity game. I
don’t know if they were nervous, or if it was the lack of conditioning
with only seven practices … we just looked a little out of sorts
tonight, which is to be expected.
“Candor is a tough place to
play. None of the guys on my roster has ever played in Candor’s gym,”
added Judson. “I told the kids after the game ‘sometimes you have to win
ugly, and we did tonight.’”
Senior Ryan Lamber and junior Brady
Blauvelt each knocked down a 3-pointer and scored five points in the
first quarter, and freshman Joey Tomasso added four points to fuel
Waverly’s 19-7 first-quarter run.
However, Candor countered with
an 18-11 second-quarter spurt to cut the deficit to 30-25 at the half.
It could have been closer, but the Indians made just 9 of 16 free-throw
attempts in the stanza.
Senior Aidan Westbrook scored eight
points scored eight points in the third quarter, and junior Davis Croft
connected on a 3-pointer and scored five points as Waverly stretched its
lead to 10 points, 50-40, entering the final eight minutes.
Judson singled out the play of two of his seniors.
“Aidan
Westbrook played pretty well for us tonight, he was all over the
floor,” said Judson. “He really got us going in the second half with
some steals in the open court.
“And, Ryan Lambert was a steadying influence all game long,” he added.
The
Wolverines did not make a field goal in the fourth quarter, and made
just 5 of 12 free-throw attempts, but it was enough to hold on for the
win.
Westbrook led Waverly with 12 points, five rebounds, and
four steals, while Lambert had 11 points and two assists, and Croft had
11 points, four boards, and one blocked shot.
Blauvelt scored
nine points in the win, while Tomasso added seven points, five rebounds,
and two assists, junior Liam Traub grabbed seven rebounds, and seniors
Peyton Bowen and Kobe Decker each had four boards.
Nick Thomas led a balanced Candor attack with 13 points.
Waverly hosts Candor Friday night.
