Wildcats fall on the road in overtime loss

NACOGDOCHES- The Sulphur Springs Wildcats traveled to Nacogdoches Tuesday for their final non-district game of the season. The Wildcats entered the day with a 10-5 record and with only one loss in over a month.

Sophomore big man Kordrick Turner got the scoring started, making a layup on an assist from Lamodrick Johnson to get the Wildcats out to a quick 2-0 lead. Later in the opening frame Johnson picked up another assist, this time to senior Boo Wilkerson who knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game up at 10-10.

With Sulphur Springs trying to stay in the game, junior center Justin Haire blocked a shot that led to a Wilkerson 3-pointer early in the third quarter. Two possessions later Haire found Wilkerson for another 3-pointer, his third of the night, to tie the game up at 32-32.

Nacogdoches answered back with a 12-0 run to take a 12-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Wildcats fought their way back in. A pair of 3-pointers from Johnson and Caleb Alexander helped force overtime, but Sulphur Springs eventually fell by a final score of 58-53.

Haire and Turner were the leading scorers for the Wildcats, finishing with 11 points each. Ten of Haire’s 11 points came during their second half comeback. Johnson also finished in double-digits, posting 10 points of his own, while also dishing out a number of assists.

Wilkerson was right behind him, knocking down three 3-pointers for a total of nine points. Other scorers for the Wildcats were Alexander with five points, Parker Whisenhunt with four points and Malique Cole who had three points.

Shooting ended up being the deciding factor in the five-point loss for the Wildcats. Sulphur Springs and Nacogdoches were close in rebounds, assists and turnovers, but the Wildcats were only able to make 39% of their shots, 29% of their 3-point attempts, and 50% of their free throws. Nacogdoches on the other hand made 46% of their shots, 31% of their shots from range, and 79% of their free throws.

The Wildcats will be back in action Saturday with a district game at home. Sulphur Springs hosts Longview with the freshman team beginning at 1 p.m. The junior varsity is set to begin at 2:15 p.m., and the varsity is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.