WEST LIBERTY – WL-S was able to make a late run to hold on to a 57-44 victory over Cedarville Friday night in Ohio Heritage Conference boys basketball.
The Tigers jumped out to a 21-12 lead after a quarter and had a comfortable 34-23 lead at halftime.
The Tigers (3-1, 2-0) were able to hit a few outside shots to get by, even with post man Austin Miller double- and triple-teamed for much of the first half.
Even though both teams struggled for much of the third period, WL-S led 44-33 going into the fourth quarter.
Then the theatrics started.
Cedarville used a couple of three-pointers and some fouls to claw its way back to a 7-point deficit midway through the quarter. With 2:30 left on the clock, the Indians were able to shave it to four points.
But West Liberty-Salem not only hung on, the Tigers extended the lead.
“That was a big moment,” WL-S Coach Darrin Leichty said. “We hit a couple of shots. Give them credit – they played pretty hard and put a good fight up.”
Kannon Stillings finished as the high scorer for West Liberty-Salem with 15 points. Ross Kelley added 12 points.
“We’re happy with the league win, but we’re going to have to be better than that going forward, too,” Leichty said.
The Tigers were also able to prevail in the jayvee contest, 46-41. Trevor Burden had 19 points in that game.
West Liberty-Salem plays at Greeneview next Friday.
