WOODWARD — If there is one area that stands out while dissecting the statistics for the first half of the season from the Woodward-Granger boys basketball team, it is the hole on the scoreboard the Hawks have continually dug for themselves in the first halves of their contests.
W-G (1-6 overall and in WCC play) has scored 79 combined first-quarter points and 72 total points in the second quarter. While not overwhelming, those would be survivable rates were it not for the 101 first, and 113 second period points the team has allowed.
The Hawks have thus faced and average deficit of 14-11 after eight minutes and a 31-21 average halftime hole. W-G had led once at the intermission, when an emotionally-charged team led, 35-31, over Woodward Academy en route to their lone win so far.
Despite the first-half issues, their is room for optimism. The team is shooting 41 percent for the floor (36 percent behind the 3-point arc) and is pulling down 23 rebounds per game while almost always facing a decided height deficit.
Senior Nick Squires leads the way with 15.1 points and six rebounds per game. He has hit 12-of-34 3-pointers, is shooting 49 percent overall and has nine steals and six blocked shots.
Bodie Harrison is scoring 7.6 points per game and has provided 15 assists while pulling down 25 boards, with Marcus McConahay averaging seven points per outing while snaring 17 caroms and distributing 14 assists.
The team will need to lower a turnover rate of nearly 20 per game and must shoot better than 60 percent at the foul line, but both are areas in which the week of holiday practices can create improvement.
W-G will return to action Jan. 5 with a trip to Earlham, with Guthrie Center to visit Jan. 8.
