WOODWARD — If the only points scored Friday between Guthrie Center and Woodward-Granger had come in the first and fourth quarters, the visiting Tigers would have slipped off with a 30-29 WCC victory.
Unfortunately for Guthrie Center (2-8, 1-8), their hosts more than had their way in the middle 16 minutes of action, as a 33-14 bulge in the second and third quarters helped generate a 62-44 victory for W-G.
The Hawks (2-7, 2-7) fell into a quick 9-2 hole to start the contest but were able to swiftly close their deficit to 11-9 after one period of play.
A series of baskets from Nick Squires and Marcus McConahay and a sudden increase in defensive intensity lifted the Hawks to a 25-16 halftime advantage and set the stage for the second half.
The hosts did not skip a beat after the break and steadily widened the gap on the scoreboard in the third stanza, with a flurry of steals creating resulting in eight points on five possessions that helped blow the game open at 34-22. By the time the quarter ended, the Hawks had firm control of the contest with a 42-25 lead.
The Hawks blistered the nets by shooting 24-of-41 (59 percent) from the floor, a number even more impressive in that the team sank 20-of-28 (71 percent) of their two-point field goal attempts. The hosts were hot at the foul line as well, draining 10-of-12 free throws for an 83 percent clip at the stripe.
Swift ball movement and accurate passes also greatly aided the cause, as the Hawks had 19 assists on their 24 field goals.
Squires, the lone senior on the squad, paced W-G with 17 points while grabbing six rebounds and distributing three assists.
McConahay finished with 13 points, five assists and three boards, with Brady Aunspach providing 10 points, four caroms, three assists and three steals. Bodie Harrison helped spark the offense with eight assists to go with six points, three rebounds and three thefts.
Derick Morgan had six points and Brody Easter four, with Cameron Hoyt and Jake Greenwood accounting for three points apiece.
W-G will host a pair of WCC contests next week, with West Central Valley to visit Tuesday and Des Moines Christian Friday.
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