WICKLIFFE, OH— The Wickliffe Blue Devils dominated the Berkshire Badgers 64-47 to improve their record to 3-3, while the Badgers fall to 1-6. Both teams got off to hot starts in this one.
Luke Stute opened the scoring for the Badgers, and it was immediately answered by one player who had a hot start in Jimmy Wheeler. He hit a three to give Wickliffe the 3-2 lead early. After each team’s first possession, it was evident both sides were looking to find their offensive rhythm by playing slow. After some free throws put Berkshire back in front, Wheeler pulled up for two to steal the lead back for the Blue Devils. The next possession, the Badgers got two offensive rebounds which led to Stute hitting a shot to see the third lead change in the first three minutes, 6-5. The fourth lead change saw Wheeler hit his second three, having all eight points for the Blue Devils, and giving Wickliffe the 8-6 lead. This sparked a 10-0 run to end the quarter, a run that saw Walter Cable hit two threes. The Blue Devils led after one quarter of play 15-6.
Jimmy Wheeler hits a jump shot for Wickliffe in the 1st
The Badgers were already letting the game slip away, and did so even more in the second quarter. They were sloppy with the basketball and couldn’t make anything they threw at the rim. They were not able to draw many fouls in the first quarter, but that luck started to change in the second. The change, however, didn’t lead to much good, as Cable hit his third and fourth three on back-to-back possessions to put Wickliffe up 23-9. The momentum for the Blue Devils continued throughout the second quarter, as that second Cable three sparked a 17-4 run to close the half with a 37-13 lead, as the Badgers continued to see turnovers plague them offensively.
The Blue Devils continued that run as the third quarter started. Wheeler wheeled his way inside with a spin move and a pretty finish at the rim to extend the lead to 26.
It was at this point that the Badgers started to turn it on, going on a 9-0 run over the next three minutes. They were starting to hit their shots as well as forcing many Wickliffe turnovers thanks to their press defense. Jake Beal stopped the bleeding for the Blue Devils with a three to get cut the deficit back to 20 at 42-22. Then the Badgers started a mini 6-0 run as Cameron Beam was starting to catch fire, with four of those six points during the spurt. Wheeler came to life again for Wickliffe with back-to-back buckets to push the Blue Devil advantage back to 19 at 47-28. The badgers were able to add three more before the quarter ended, as the score sat at 47-31 after three.
Jimmy Wheeler with a beautiful spin move and score in the 3rd for the Blue Devils
The start of the fourth saw both teams trade free throws for the first two minutes, and Gavin Hipp changed that pattern for the Badgers as his two-point bucket saw the lead cut the deficit to 13 at 49-36. After the two sides traded buckets, Cable took over again. He hit two quick transition triples on back-to-back possessions to put the Blue Devils up by 19 with four minutes remaining. He put up a circus reverse layup and drew the foul, finishing the and-one free throw to seal the game, as his 28 points led the effort in the win for Wickliffe, 64-47.
Walter Cable hits a dagger corner three for Wickliffe in the 4th quarter
Wheeler closely followed him with 22 points, as the two combined for 50 of the team’s points. Beam was the leading scorer for Berkshire, as he had 18 points.
Wickliffe will be back in action on Monday, Dec. 30, as they take on the Harding Skippers. Berkshire will look to get back in the win column on the same date, as they battle the Chagrin Falls Tigers.
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