The Blanchester seventh grade boys basketball team defeated Wilmington 23-20 Thursday night.

Brayden Behymer and Mitchell Lear made key free throws down the stretch to give the Wildcats the victory, coach Dylan Miller said.

Blanchester then played tough defense, according to Miller, to keep Wilmington at bay.

Behymer finished with nine points. Cooper Reynolds had five and Eddy Schaub scored three. Lear, Eli Pell and Colton Daniel had two points each for the Wildcats.