WAVERLY BURIES CANDOR WITH FIRST-HALF BLITZ

By: Tim Birney | Waverly Athletics | February 10, 2021 | Photo courtesy David Alliger

WAVERLY — Waverly scored 30 consecutive points in a run that bridged the first two quarters on its way to a season-opening, 77-29, rout of Candor here Wednesday night in IAC girls basketball action.

Sophomore Kennedy Westbrook’s bucket with 5:20 remaining in the first quarter gave the Lady Wolverines a 6-4 lead, and sparked a 30-0 run.

After a bucket by senior Gabby Picco, senior Sidney Tomasso and Westbrook hit back-to-back 3-pointers to make it 14-4 with 2:35 left in the first quarter.

Tomasso knocked down another 3-pointer, and the Lady Wolverines built a 24-4 lead after the first eight minutes.

Tomasso and Picco each buried 3-pointers early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 30-4. A bucket by Tomasso, and two free throws by Picco capped the run and made it 34-4 with 5:45 left in the first half.

A 3-pointer by Braelyn Hornick, who led Candor with 21 points, broke the Lady Indians’ eight minute and 27-second scoring drought, and made it 34-7.

Waverly closed the half with an 12-3 spurt to take a 46-10 lead into the halftime intermission.

Tomasso, who had 18 points and four 3-pointers in the first half, added nine more points and another 3-pointer in the third quarter, and Picco, Westbrook, and freshman Paige Robinson each knocked down 3-pointers to fuel an 18-1 Waverly run that extended the lead to 64-11.

Hornick scored 14 points, including a 9-for-9 effort at the free-throw line, in the fourth quarter for Candor.

Tomasso led Waverly with 27 points and five 3-pointers, while Westbrook scored 21 points, Picco added 12 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, and Robinson chipped in with 10 points.

Waverly knocked down 13 3-pointers, and was 9-for-11 from the free-throw line in the win.

The Lady Wolverines travel to Candor Friday.