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Sports
By: Patrick Browne
On Jan. 17 the Wykons of West Iron (0-11) suited up against the Stephenson Eagles (6-3). The Eagles entered the contest with a respectable record, a balanced attack and the expectation they would not have to work that hard for their seventh victory. The Wykons entered the game with the same can-do attitude they have taken the floor with every game this year, a sense of purpose driven by an upbeat first year coach and a hope they would bring home their first victory of the season.
The Wykons won the opening jump and came close to winning the game.
The first quarter saw the Wykons play even with the Eagles, scoring seven points to the Eagles eight. Elijah Oberlin sank two shots from the paint and a free throw while Nathan Camps sank his first basket of the night. The Wykon offense was warming up.
In the second quarter, Oberlin added five more points to his total, Abel Lundin got on the board with his first bucket of the night and Keenan Dobson-Donati dropped in four. The 11 second quarter points, two of which came at the buzzer, sent the Wykons into halftime with an 18 to 16 lead. Hope began to emerge, the boys would find their way to a win.
In the third quarter, the Wykons returned to the court with energy, a clear purpose and clearly on a mission. They scored 13 points, up from 11 in the second quarter and seven in the first. The Wykons were scoring more points in each successive quarter. Victory seemed possible.
The Eagles fought back hard. Stephenson put up 24 points and took the lead. The on court irrepressible leadership of Abel Lundin emerged as he kicked in five crucial points and Camps added eight. Despite falling behind, the Wykons still had a chance. Down by nine heading into the final quarter of play, the candle of hope was strained, but still flickered.
To see the Wykons play in the fourth quarter was to get a glimpse of the future. Coach Contreras saw his boys come alive and contest every shot, fight for every rebound and surrender ground only reluctantly. West Iron scored 18 points in the quarter. Oberlin led with 11, Camps with four and Lundin with three.
As the buzzer sounded, the Wykons returned to the bench, were applauded by their fans for a hard fought game and congratulated by their coach for what was clearly their best game of the year.
The Wykons had fallen, 62 to 49.
“I thought our guys played very hard and very well,” stated Coach Contreras. “We are making progress every day and getting better every game!”