Alva Review-Courier -

Although the young Goldbugs have lost the majority of their games this season, they demonstrated they've matured and learned a lot in Monday night's game at Woodward. During the second and third quarters of the contest, Alva closed in on the Boomers, leading by two points at the half. But Woodward managed to pull ahead in the final minutes of the game to win 66-60.

Alva sophomore Braden Hofen put the first two points on the scoreboard, but Woodward went on a nine point scoring run before Jackson Feely added another Alva basket. Austin Reed scored and was fouled. He missed the free throw, but the Goldbugs had narrowed the score to 9-6. Alva stayed in the game until the final minutes when the Boomers hit three unanswered baskets to lead 22-14 at the end of the first period.

In the second quarter, Alva got baskets from Kaden Slater, Austin Reed and Reece Martin to pull within seven points of the lead. Then Reed hit a nice three-pointer to narrow the gap at 27-23. Jack McClung hit a Woodward triple, but Martin added a free throw and Feely found the three point range.

The Boomers had trouble hitting the basket. Alva's Baylor Rust went for a basket that didn't go in, but Reed got the put-back, was fouled and added another point. That tied the score at 30. Reed picked off a Woodward pass and went for the layup. The basket missed, but he was fouled and made both shots from the line to put Alva up 32-30 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Goldbugs ran their lead up to 40-30 before Woodward was able to score. As the Boomers slowly chipped away at the Alva margin, the Goldbugs hit a drought with only one free throw by Hofen. Soon Alva led by only one point at 41-40. The score hit another tie at 43 before Woodward started pulling ahead. At the end of the third period, Woodward was in the lead at 53-51.

The fourth quarter opened with five points by Woodward before Alva's Feely scored. Then Hofen hit a breakaway basket, and Alva trailed 58-55. Woodward scored a basket, and Rust added another for Alva to keep the gap at three points. Slater cut the Boomer lead to one with a basket at 60-59. Before the quarter ended, Woodward went on a scoring run while Alva managed only one free throw by Hofen. The final was Woodward 66, Alva 60.

Reed led the Alva scoring with 17 followed by Feely and Slater with 11 each. Martin scored nine, Hofen eight and Rust four.

Max Cheap led the Boomers with 16 points followed by Rylan Cope with 14 and Coltyn Semmel with 13. Zach Chavez and Jack McClung had six each, Kaden Kornele five, Rylan Cope four and Kaleb Key two.

Woodward improved to 14-8 for the season while the Goldbugs posted a 4-18 record.

The Goldbugs move into the district playoff Saturday when they face a familiar foe in the Blackwell Maroons. Alva lost by four points to Blackwell on Dec. 10 and again on Jan. 3. In the Wheat Capital Tournament, they lost to the Maroons 48-40. It's sure to be a hotly contested game. Tipoff is at 8 p.m.

Both the winner and runner-up will advance to regional play at Community Christian in Norman the following Thursday, Feb. 27. The winner draws an 8 p.m. time against the winner of the Community Christian and Lone Grove contest. The runner-up plays at 3 p.m. Thursday against the loser of the Community Christian and Lone Grove game.