WOODWARD — A quick start and strong ending carried Woodward-Granger to a 68-57 win over Woodward Academy Friday in the lone WCAC meeting this season between the rivals. The victory followed a 74-63 triumph over visiting Ogden Thursday that concluded a season sweep for the Hawk boys.
Friday’s win lifted W-G to 13-3 overall and 11-2 in conference play. A 22-15 first quarter gave the hosts an early lead, with the Hawks entering the locker room with a 39-33 advantage.
Woodward Academy (4-11, 3-10) closed to within five points, down 51-46, after three periods of play, but W-G scored the first five points of the closing stanza as part of a 17-11 quarter to insure the win.
Bryce Achenbach led the Hawks with 21 points. Noah Hoyt added 19 points and Reese Jamison 14, with Kaya Bowlsby providing eight points and Keith Braunschweig six.
Davion Wilson’s 21 points led the charge for the Knights. Robert Collins had 10 points, and Andre Augustus eight, with six points from Uric Booker and Devontae Gansen, four from Roy Barker and two from Markel Weitz capping Academy offense.
The win came less than 24 hours after W-G used an 11-point scoring edge in the second quarter to help fuel a win over Ogden despite blistering shooting from 3-point range by the guests.
Ogden (10-6, 8-5) held a 20-17 lead after the opening quarter, but W-G countered with a 20-9 eight minute spurt to hold a 37-29 advantage at the half. The Bulldogs chipped their deficit to 55-49 with one period to play, but the Hawks outscored their guests down the stretch to claim the 74-63 win, a score close to the 73-61 final in W-G’s triumph Dec. 14.
The visitors splashed 11-of-23 3-point shots in the game, with Kayden Kruse hitting 6-of-12 while finishing with a game-high 23 points. Ben Heeren had 22 points, Jacob Craven nine, Griffin Diggs five and Ethan Snedden four. Heeren pulled down 12 rebounds, with Diggs distributing six assists.
Hoyt had 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals for W-G, with Achenbach tallying 16 points, seven caroms and three thefts while Braunschweig had 14 points and five boards. Alex Bice had a season-high 10 points, with Jamison adding seven points, Bowlsby seven points and four assists and Nick Buch two points.
W-G continues WCAC next with by hosting Madrid Tuesday before traveling to Des Moines Christian Friday.
