The #13 ranked Wildcats’ basketball team is in the championship game of the Union Grove Chick-fil-A Tournament after a 71-49 win over Kountze Friday afternoon (December 8). Kountze is ranked #19 in Class 3A.
The Wildcats once again were fast starters Friday. They jumped out to a 23-7 first quarter lead and they led at the half, 41-21. The Lions used ten successful three-point shots to chip away at the lead but when the final horn sounded, the Wildcats had a 22 point win. All thirteen Wildcats’ varsity members got to play and ten of them scored points.
Keaston Willis led the way for the Wildcats with 16 points including 2 three-point baskets. Michael Jefferson added 15 points with a pair of made threes. Victor Iwuakor chipped in 14 points. Coming off the bench Bryson Lynn and Day Day Hall had 6 points each. Lynn had two three point baskets. Dedric Godbolt and Godsgift Ezedinma each had 4 points. Reserves Iverson Wade, Xavier Cork and Cameron Khan all had 2 points. Wildcats Coach Clark Cipoletta said Kountze was a very athletic team who shot the ball well.
He said the Wildcats did a good job of getting stops and pushing the ball in transition for some easy buckets early on. Coach Cipoletta said the Lions zoned the Wildcats the majority of the time. He added the Wildcats did a good job of being patient and getting high quality shots. Coach Cipoletta said the Wildcats were able to pound the ball inside early which opened up the perimeter for open three point shots. He concluded by saying he and Assistant Coach Philip Manning are very pleased with the way the Wildcats are sharing the ball and getting stops on the defensive end. He said if the players keep putting the team first, the sky is the limit for this team.
The Wildcats season record is now 12-1 and they have won five games in a row. In the Union Grove tournament championship game, the Wildcats will face Willis Saturday at 1 p.m.
