Heartbreak for Waterford Boys: Narrow 50-48 Loss Against Eastern

Waterford’s Reese Lang, left, brings the ball up the court as Eastern’s Lane Atha defends during Friday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Patricia Miller)

WATERFORD – The Waterford Wildcats showcased a thrilling comeback on Friday night against the Eastern Eagles in a Tri-Valley Conference game at the Cooper Annex. Although they fought back from a double-digit lead, they ended up just shy of victory, losing 50-48.

The Eagles, who never lost the lead, opened the game with a strong 9-0 run. Waterford’s sophomore Reese Lang finally got the Wildcats on the scoreboard with a two-pointer. Eastern’s Colt Lloyd quickly responded, pushing the Eagles to a 13-4 advantage after adding another basket following free throws from Waterford’s Finn Pennock.

By the end of the first quarter, Waterford had narrowed the gap to 16-11. Lang continued to lead the charge, hitting another basket to bring them even closer at the start of the second quarter. However, Lloyd proved difficult to defend, scoring seven straight points, including a three-pointer, giving Eastern a 15-point lead as the first half neared its end.

The Wildcats made a strong effort before halftime, with Heiner’s free throws and Pennock’s last-second jumper cutting the Eagles’ lead. The halftime score had Eastern up 32-22.

The second half saw a major shift as Waterford turned up their defense, causing multiple turnovers for Eastern. This pressure allowed them to chip away at the lead, and what started as a 15-point deficit was reduced to just a single point with five minutes left in the third quarter.

Key contributions from Heiner and Tyson Franchino helped the Wildcats rush ahead. The Eagles managed to claw back, maintaining a slim lead heading into the fourth quarter. A three-pointer by Derrick Barnes at the start of the last period gave some breathing room for Eastern.

With just under two minutes remaining, Eastern was still up by five. The Wildcats weren’t done yet; a step-back three by Pennock cut the Eagles’ lead to 47-45. Eastern’s Gavin Murphy responded with a basket, but again things tightened as Franchino made a crucial three-point play, bringing Waterford within one point.

In the final moments, Waterford had a chance to tie or win but turned the ball over. They caught a break, however, when Eastern’s Ethan Edwards missed two free throws, giving Pennock a chance to grab the rebound with only 4.1 seconds left.

The Wildcats got the ball to Pennock, but his long shot was off as time ran out. Lloyd led all scorers with 23 points while Pennock paced Waterford with 13 points, with Heiner contributing a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Wildcats now hold a record of 6-8 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

In a previous game, the Waterford girls’ team dominated Eastern, securing a 55-14 victory. The Wildcats jumped to a 19-3 lead in the first quarter and continued to expand their advantage, heading into halftime at 31-8.

Waterford’s defense was stifling, allowing them to score 19 consecutive points in the third quarter. The game proved challenging for Eastern, who could only tally points from three-pointers and free throws.

Waterford’s Avery Wagner and Kendall Sury both posted double-doubles, with Wagner scoring 16 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. The Wildcats improved their record to 18-1, remaining perfect in conference play at 9-0. Unfortunately, the victory came with concerns as they lost guard Elsie Malec to an injury.

Next, the Wildcats’ boys team will meet Federal Hocking, while the girls team will travel to Belpre.