Alva Review-Courier -

After a loss to Woodward Tuesday, the Alva Goldbugs headed to the Downtown Enid Festival to take on Morrison Friday afternoon. The Goldbugs went into the game with a 9-8 record while Morrison was coming off a six game winning streak at 12-4.

The teams were evenly matched in the first quarter with Morrison edging the Goldbugs 13-10, but the Wildcats went on a 12-2 run in the second to lead 25-12 at the half. In the third period, the Alva team scored 13 points to six for Morrison to narrow the Wildcat lead to 31-25. The Goldbugs just couldn't get the shots to fall in the fourth, and Morrison won 45-33. Early in the game, Braden Hofen turned his ankle and wasn't able to play the rest of the afternoon.

First Half

Hofen put the first points on the board when he was fouled and sank both shots. Then Kyler Penco stole the ball and sank a basket to put Alva up 4-0. Morrison had baskets from Gabe Battles and Brody Roe to tie the score at four. Goldbug Jackson Feely scored off a Hofen assist, but Battles made a three-pointer and then hit a basket to put Morrison up 9-6. Battles added a free throw point, but Austin Reed scored two on a jumper. Jalen Powell scored for the Wildcats, and Feely added another Alva basket for the 13-10 score in favor of Morrison at the end of one.

Brody Roe scored off a turnover to increase the Wildcats' lead at the start of the second quarter. The teams battled to reach the basket but no one was scoring. With less than three minutes left, Reed hit a jump shot for Alva, the only Goldbug score in the quarter. Morrison poured in ten more points with five from Rupp, three from Brody Roe and two from Powell to lead 25-12 at the half.

Second Half

Chuck Shelite opened second half scoring with an open three-pointer for Alva. Feely added another trey, and Alva was within ten. Powell added a Wildcat basket, but Shelite sank another three. Phillip Randall scored two for Alva, and the Goldbugs were within four points at 27-23. Wildcat Jared Harmon made his only two points of the game. Powell got another two off an offensive tip-in, and Morrison was ahead by eight. Feely sank one more basket before the quarter ended with Morrison leading 31-25.

Desiree Morehead

Left: Alva's Jackson Feely (11) and the Morrison defense try to rebound the ball. Right: Alva's Kyler Penco (12) goes up for a layup against the Morrison defense Friday afternoon.

Feely made a strong effort in the fourth quarter, scoring three baskets. Freshman Daylon Malone had the only other points for the Goldbugs in the final period. Meanwhile Morrison added to their lead and won the game 45-33.

Wrap-Up

Feely led the Goldbugs with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Shelite had six and Reed four. Penco, Hofen, Malone and Randall had two points each.

Morrison had two players in double figures with Brody Roe scoring 13 and Powell 11. Battles had nine points, Rupp five and Douglas Harshbarger 3. Harmon and Briggs Roe made two apiece.

Alva moves to 9-9 for the season while Morrison is 12-4.

Next Tuesday, the Goldbugs will take on Tonkawa at home followed by a trip to Frontier on Thursday. Saturday, Alva plays Hooker in a homecoming contest with the Ladybugs tipping off at 3 p.m. followed by the Goldbugs.