Goldbugs edge the Wildcats in OT

 

January 29, 2023

Desiree Morehead

Goldbug Lantz Mathers (25) gets the rebound and goes back up for two points for his team.

It was a long night for the Alva Goldbugs, traveling to the Enid Skordle Festival to take on Cashion. Games were running over an hour behind. Then the Goldbugs and Wildcats fought to a 60-60 tie and went into overtime. Alva dominated the OT and finished with a 71-64 win.

First Half

The Wildcats put a big defensive effort in keeping Kyler Penco away from the basket. But Daylon Malone found some good shots from the outside to keep the Goldbugs in the game. Malone started the scoring with a three-point shot. Cashion's Caleb Shafer answered with a basket and a free throw to tie. Malone sank another trey, but Nathan Nabavi also sank a three-pointer for the 6-6 tie. Jackson Vandruff made a basket to give the Wildcats a one-point lead, but Malone found three point range again, this time from the left win. Weston Tucker was fouled and made one of two free throw chances for Alva. Lantz Mathers added a basket to Alva's score. Aiden Ruiz sank a Goldbug three-point shot from the right front circle. Vandruff had the final point of the quarter with a free throw. The Goldbugs led 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.

Nabavi opened the second period, making one of two attempts at the charity stripe. Penco finally found a path to the basket, adding two points for Alva. Camden Miller made two points for the Wildcats from the free throw line. Then Alva's Jaxon Jones went to the foul line, making both shots. Penco added another basket, and Alva led 21-12. Shafer hit a Cashion basket. Penco followed with an Alva layup off a Wharton pass. Wildcat Chance Acord sank a trey. Alva's Malone made two free throws followed by two free throws for Cashion from Miller. Malone sank another three-pointer, but Acord followed with a trey. Vandruff had the final shot of the quarter, narrowing the margin. Alva led 28-24 at halftime.

Second Half

Penco sank a straight on three to begin the third quarter. Nabavi followed with a basket, and Vandruff added two free throws. Malone scored on his fifth trey of the night. Ruiz made an Alva basket, and Alva led 36-28. Penco widened the margin to ten with a bucket. Acord hit another Cashion three-pointer. Malone added two points off free throws, and Mathers scored on a basket. Cashion added five points off a Vandruff basket and a Nabavi trey. Malone went to the charity stripe, making both shots. Nabavi finished the quarter with a basket, and Alva led by four at 44-40 to end the third quarter.

In the final period, Penco started off with a basket and made good on the foul shot that followed. Then Penco scored again on a Malone assist, and Alva led by nine at 49-40. Vandruff scored for Cashion, but Ruiz answered with an Alva basket, was fouled and made the free throw. Then Miller hit a right wing three followed by a basket to narrow Alva's lead to five. Vandruff made one of two free throw opportunities. Wildcat Max Brown made his only basket of the game. Penco scored two from the free throw line. Vandruff hit a basket, to narrow Alva's lead to two points 54-52.

Ruiz scored on a put back, and Malone sank one of two free throws. Vandruff scored on a free throw followed by a basket to pull within two points of Alva. Penco and Malone each made good on one free throw. Cashion scored again to narrow the Goldbug lead to two. Nabavi fouled out. Phillip Randall went to the free throw line, making one of two shots. In the final seconds, Miller sank a three-pointer to tie the game at 60. Malone's buzzer shot didn't go in, and the teams were headed to overtime.

Overtime

Desiree Morehead

Goldbug Drake Wharton (14) zig zags down the lane full of Wildcat defense.

As the clock hands crept toward midnight, the teams took the floor. A group of diehard fans stayed on to add cheering momentum. Malone's three-point shot missed the mark, but he grabbed the ball from Cashion, tried again and scored two points. Penco went to the rim but was fouled. He made both free throws. Another foul put Penco on the charity stripe where he made both shots. Alva now led 66-60. Malone was next at the foul line where he made one of two. Acord sank a three-point shot to pull within four points of Alva. Penco made two more trips to the free throw line, making all four tries. Both Brown and Vandruff fouled out in the OT. Acord had the final chance for Cashion, making one of two free throws. The Goldbugs won 71-64.

Wrap-Up

Despite a slow start, Penco led the Alva scoring with 27 points followed by Malone with 26. Ruiz had ten and Mathers four. Jones finished with two points while Randall and Tucker each had one.

Vandruff led Cashion with 18 points followed by Miller with 14 and Acord with 13. Nabavi had 11, Shafer six and Brown two.

The Goldbugs will be at home Tuesday night to take on the Tonkawa Buccaneers. Game time will be around 8 p.m. following the Ladybug game.

 

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