HILLSBORO — Many of the traits Wilmington basketball has been known for under head coach Michael Noszka were on display Friday night against New Albany in the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic at Southern State Community College’s Patriot Center.
Toughness, defense, athleticism, winning.
The offense may take some time to find its stride. The offensive firepower from the past few years – with Jarrron and Jaevin Cumberland amassing more than 4,000 career points – has since matriculated to the collegiate level.
Still, the defensive effort and toughness of the Hurricane kept them in the game and the offense did just enough to win in a 49-41 triumph over New Albany.
New Albany managed to forge a tie at the end of regulation but missed a free throw with 5.2 seconds left that could have won it. Wilmington had its chances but free throw shooting (1 of 7) was not good down the stretch and the teams went to overtime.
Matt Smith’s offensive stickback gave WHS the lead 36-34 at 3:28 then his ensuing free throw put the ‘Cane on top 37-34. Dylan Beaugard came up with a steal on defense to give WHS the ball then the junior guard extended the lead at the free throw line 39-34 with 2:48 to play in OT.
Smith, who was quiet offensively prior to exploding for six points all in the OT, had his second three-point play of the extra time and WHS put the game away 42-34. Gauche hit a couple of free throws, 44-36.
Dylan Beaugard, the game’s Most Outstanding Player, had 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Jeffery Mansfield also had 15 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocked shots. Matt Smith had eight rebounds and Chris Wolary had seven.
New Albany led 9-6 after one period.
The Hurricane regained the lead when Beaugard’s dribble drive into the lane left Mansfield open for a three, 11-9, at the 5:48 mark of the second quarter.
Beaugard then put points on the board himself at 3:36 with an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the WHS lead to 14-9. A leaner in the lane by Beaugard, which followed Mansfield’s taking a charge at the defensive end, gave the Hurricane its biggest lead of the night at 16-9.
The WHS lead evaporated early in the second half as New Albany completed an 8-0 run on a three-pointer but Wolary answered with a three of his own from the top of the key and the Hurricane went back on top 19-17. The 6-6 senior’s versatility came in focus with an offensive stickback on the next possession. Curtis Gauche then scored his first points of the season and New Albany called time at 6:01 as WHS led 23-17.
The back and forth game continued with the Eagles flying into the lead with 13 seconds to play in the third, 26-25. New Albany pushed its advantage to 28-25 early in the fourth.
Smith hit a cutting Wolary for an easy two as WHS took the lead, 29-28, with just under 7:00 to play in the fourth. Mansfield, who took a beating in this one, backed the defense to the low block and put another one in, 31-28.
Mansfield brought the crowd to its feet with a big block on defense with 34 seconds to go. Wolary’s defense forced a traveling call on NA but the Eagles managed to battle back to tie the game and send the two teams to overtime.
SUMMARY
December 2, 2016
Ohio Valley Hoops Classic
@Southern State Patriot Center
Wilmington 50 New Albany 40 OT
W 06.10.09.09.16…..50
N 09.03.14.08.06…..40
(50) WILMINGTON (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Gauche 1-0-2-4 Smith 2-0-2-6 Beaugard 3-0-9-15 Mansfield 5-1-4-15 Wolary 3-1-1-8 McIntosh 0-0-0-0 Evans 1-0-0-2 Coomer 0-0-0-0 Wright 0-0-0-0. TOTALS 15-2-18-50
(40) NEW ALBANY (fg-3fg-ft-tp) Jackson 3-1-1-8 Nash 1-1-0-3 Blaha 0-0-0-0 McDonald 5-0-0-10 Lyles 2-0-0-4 Chandra 0-0-0-0 Watson 0-0-0-0 Martin 2-0-2-6 Dawson 2-0-1-5 Wood 1-0-2-4 Mahoney 0-0-0-0. TOTALS 16-2-6-40
FIELD GOALS: W 15-33 (Mansfield 5-12 Beaugard 3-7 Smith 2-3); NA 16-44 (McDonald 5-11)
3 PT FIELD GOALS: W 2-11; NA 2-17
FREE THROWS: W 18-31 (Beaugard 9-9); NA 6-12
REBOUNDS: W-33 (Smith 8 Wolary 7 Mansfield 6 Beaugard 6); NA-26 (McDonald 7)
ASSISTS: W-4 (Beaugard 3); NA-6 (Jackson 3)
STEALS: W-2; NA-2
BLOCKED SHOTS: W-4 (Mansfield 3); NA-0
TURNOVERS: W-19; NA-17
