WOODWARD — Visiting Ogden managed to maintain a small lead throughout almost all of Tuesday’s West Central Conference girls cage match against Woodward-Granger before eventually pulling away in the fourth quarter to claim a 41-32 victory.
The Bulldogs (7-9, 4-8) held a 10-9 edge after the first frame and entered the intermission with a 19-15 edge. The Hawks (5-11, 3-8) were twice able to come within a point in the third quarter but were never quite able to grab the lead and trailed, 29-25, entering the final eight minutes.
Ogden did just enough down the stretch to slowly pull away for the win. W-G had won the Dec. 13 meeting, 42-40, as the teams divided the season set.
W-G sank 12-of-18 free throws and Ogden 15-of-21, but it was poor shooting from in close that hurt the hosts, as they missed repeatedly from within 10 feet, with credit due to the low post defense of Ellee Laws and Kylie Nichols.
Mary Hanson led W-G with 14 points, with Kayley Dresback adding six points. Five points from both Riley Jamison and Maggi Mallon and two from Alyssa Bice accounted for the Hawk scoring.
Laws paced the guests with 12 points, with Kim Christensen adding 10 points, including 5-of-8 free throws down the stretch that helped assure the win. Nichols had seven points and Ashton Boggess six, with Kennedy Kruse scoring three points, Lillie Longhorn two and Meredith Adreon one.
Kruse’s 40-foot 3-pointer just before the halftime horn boosted Ogden’s lead from one to four points and helped provide a spark for the visitors.
W-G will return to action Friday with a visit to Madrid. They host No. 9 Panorama Tuesday before visiting Earlham Feb. 3.
