WOODWARD — Visiting Van Meter slipped away with a pair of WCAC victories over Woodward-Granger Thursday.
The Bulldogs (9-5, 7-2) recovered from a second-half rally by the Hawks (12-3, 8-2) to win the girls game, 40-37, with slight scoring edges in the first and fourth quarters enough to carry Van Meter (13-0, 11-0) over W-G (12-2, 8-2) in the boys contest.
Van Meter was fourth at the boys state tourney last season and continue to be quite potent on the hardwood. A 17-11 spurt gave the guests a six-point lead after eight minutes, but W-G shave a point off their deficit in the second frame to enter the half trailing, 25-20.
The guests led, 38-32, entering the fourth quarter and were able to fend off the home team while slightly widening their advantage to remain undefeated. The loss snaps an 11-game win streak for W-G.
The Bulldogs made twice as many trips to the foul line and converted twice as many shots, sinking 16-of-20 while the Hawks were 8-of-10. Outside shooting told more of the story, with Van Meter splashing 6-of-12 3-pointers while W-G connected on just 1-of-14 beyond the arc.
Bryce Achenbach had 12 points and Keith Braunschweig 11 for W-G. Reese Jamison provided eight points, Kaya Bowlsby six, Pacey Moats four and Alex Bice and Nick Buch two apiece. Braunschweig had five rebounds and Moats three assists, with Jamison making the lone trey for the hosts.
Anthony Potthoff’s game-high 23 points led Van Meter, with Chris Schreck adding 20 points. Brett Berg and Taylor Birks scored four points apiece, with Parker Fryar tallying three points.
A slow start eventually doomed the Hawk girls, who trailed, 7-1, after one period and 16-9 at the intermission.
W-G used an 18-8 run in the third stanza to open a 27-24 lead, but a pair of costly turnovers midway through the fourth frame proved costly, with Van Meter slowly regaining the lead and then holding on for the victory.
Emma Anderson’s 13 points paced W-G, with Darby Nixon scoring nine points and Katelyn Scharlau seven. Three points apiece from Natalie Helbling and Quinn Kaufman and two from Finley Fitzgerald capped the Hawk scoring.
Clair Lauterbach led Van Meter with 12 points. Zoie Vaught had eight points and Natalie Barth seven, with Maia Abrahamson, Maya Herman and Chaney Coppinger scoring three points apiece. Two points each from Josie Durflinger and Jorja Hanselman completed the Bulldog score sheet.
W-G is at home tonight against Ogden, with AC/GC to visit Tuesday.
