WOODWARD — West Central Valley dodged a pair of would-be game-tying 3-pointers in the finals seconds Tuesday to leave Woodward-Granger with a 52-49 win in a WCC boys cage thriller.
The game was close throughout, with the Wildcats hitting free throws down the stretch to hold their three-point lead in the final few seconds. The Hawks were able to get off what head coach Brent Achenbach termed “a good look” 3-pointer, which was just off the mark. W-G snagged the rebound, fired a pass back outside for a second look — also a good look, according to Achenbach — but the second attempt was just off the mark, giving the Wildcats the win and a season sweep. WCV had previously defeated W-G, 50-36, in Stuart Dec. 1.
W-G (2-8, 2-8) connected on just 4-of-19 3-pointers in the game but otherwise shot well, sinking 17-of-35 inside the arc to finish 21-of-56 overall from the floor. However, the hosts shot only five free throws in the game, hitting three.
Brady Aunspach had 19 points and Bodie Harrison 18 to lead the Hawks. Nick Squires had four points, with Marcus McConahay, Derick Morgan, Brody Easter and Cameron Hoyt scoring two points apiece.
Aunspach and Squires had seven rebounds apiece, with Harrison clearing four boards. Three steals from Aunspach led W-G, with Squires making three assists while McConahay, Morgan and Aunspach had two assists apiece.
W-G will return to action Friday when they host conference rival Des Moines Christian.
