ATWATER, OH- The Waterloo Vikings welcomed in the Windham Bombers for a Saturday night contest that was a rescheduled came from a previous snow out. The Bombers came into this one following a tough loss on Friday night at Bristol. The Vikings were looking to snap a four game losing slide. It was a big night for the Bombers who executed a 4th quarter comeback win and saw senior guard Carlos Bruton hit the 1,000 point milestone for his high school career.
The two teams traded baskets by Matthew Ralston (Waterloo) and Carlos Bruton (Windham) to open the scoring before Jaquon Smith put Windham up 5-2 with a three ball. Waterloo would then go on a 14-3 run to take a 16-8 lead following a Gage Hawley three.
Bruton would get a bucket to end the 1st putting him 11 points away from 1,000. Waterloo led 16-10.
Kade Thomas opened quarter two for the Vikings with a three putting them up 19-10. After a Bruton bucket Trevor Simons converted a three ball and a pair of free throws to push the lead out to 24-12. After a Brandon Petrich fast break bucket and Bruton three, the Vikings would score four of the final six points to take a 28-19 lead into the break.
Trevor Simons had a game high 11 points for the Vikings while Bruton topped Windham with 9. It was a tough go in the first half for Windham who appeared to have heavy legs from their battle the night before at Bristol.
Windham appeared to come out of halftime with more aggression and energy than they displayed in the first two quarters. Matt Kolaczek and Bruton opened the 3rd with a basket and pair of free throws respectively to cut the deficit to 28-23. The Vikings pushed it right back out to 10 after Gage Hawley was fouled on a three attempt and converted all three free throws, and Drew Hawks hit a short jumper. Bruton hit a three for the Bombers cutting it back to seven and leaving him one point away from 1,000.
After a Hawks score for Waterloo, Bruton would hit his 1,000 point milestone on another three ball!
Bruton's third three of the 3rd quarter would cut the Vikings lead to 37-34 heading into the 4th quarter. It was a big 11 point quarter for Bruton as the Bombers outscored Waterloo 15-9.
Nick Hopper opened the 4th quarter scoring for the Bombers cutting the deficit to one at 37-36. Waterloo would then score six of the next eight points to take a 43-38 lead. Carlos Bruton responded with his fifth three ball of the night to make it 43-41.
Trevor Simons would answer back for Waterloo with a big three of his own.
Windham would get a big play inside from Matt Kolaczek as he scored and was fouled converting an and-one opportunity to make it a 46-44 game.
After a defensive stand, Nick Hopper drove in for a layup and was fouled, but did not convert the free throw. The game was tied at 46-46.
The Bombers closed it out with another Kolaczek bucket and pair of clutch free throws to take the come from behind victory 50-46.
Carlos Bruton led the way for the Bombers with 23 points and five three balls while hitting the 1,000 point milestone. Matt Kolaczek chipped in 9 points and 7 rebounds. Trevor Simons was tops for Waterloo with 18 points.
Windham will look to build some momentum heading into Lordstown on Tuesday while the Vikings try to right the ship at home vs Jackson-Milton.
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