Wednesday, December 6th, the Warriors traveled to Penns Valley to take on the Rams for their first game of the season. At the end of one-quarter of play, the Warriors lead with a score of 24-20. During the first quarter, two of the Warriors starters (Jrs. Joel Evans and Lukas Colton) picked up 2 fouls, resulting in them having to sit for most of the first half. This led to sophomores Dylan Mcgonigal and Easton Emigh getting big minutes, and both of them having a handful of rebounds for the team.
To start the second quarter, the Warriors were back and forth with the Rams until Easton Emigh came away with a rebound and tossed it up the court to Isaac Tiracorda for a one-hand throwdown. The Warriors then kept up the battle while missing some starters and ended the quarter down 35-36.
Out of halftime, the score was back and forth the entire time once again, until Owen Koleno hit a buzzer-beater 3 at the end of the frame. This would make the score 52-51 in favor of the Rams. In the fourth quarter, it was push and pull until Joel Evans had a big and 1 to give the Warriors the lead by one. Right after that, Owen Koleno hit another three followed by an Isaac Tiracorda steal. Dylan McGonigal also decided to cash in two three-pointers, and before you know it, the Warriors led the game 71-60. After that point, the Rams started to foul, leading to a final score of 77-66 for the Warriors to jump out to a 1-0 start on the season.
Friday, December 8th, the Warriors then took on the Harmony Owls for their second game of the season. West Branch seemed to pick up right where they left off on Wednesday, putting up 23 points in the first and ahead at the end of the quarter by a score of 23-12. Shortly into the second quarter Junior Lukas Colton caught a chin to the head on a put-back attempt and won himself a trip to the emergency room and 3 staples. After Lukas’s early exit, the Warriors seemed unfazed and went into the half with a score of 50-29. The Warriors continued to pour it on in the second half, where sophomore Dylan Mcgonigal hit 5 three-pointers and finished the night with 20 points. The final score for the Warrior’s second game ended as West Branch- 80, Harmony- 52. Student section icon Brody Rothrock had something to say about the boys’ success thus far in the season. “They’re playing great basketball right now, everyone on the team is. I have very high hopes for them as a team. Don’t be surprised if they make it far with all of the weapons they have.”
The Boys are now going into a three-game week, playing Penns Manor at home on Monday the 11th, home against Williamsburg on Wednesday the 13th, and will travel to Philipsburg on Friday the 15th. Come out and support!
