12/5/2024 vs. Bennington ... NON-CONFERENCE / Away / REGULAR SEASON /

Season Game #: 1 / Current Record: 0 - 1

WAHOO: 16 ... 17 ... 15 ... 87 ... .... 63
Bennington: 15 ... 7 ... 19 ... 1511 ... .... 67

Wahoo opened its 2024-2025 season with a tough challenge as they travelled to Bennington to face the #3 Class B ranked Badgers. Although the Warriors led most of the game they ultimately lost in overtime, 67 – 63. Free throws were the deciding factor in the game as Bennington went to the charity stripe 35 times, making 25 while Wahoo was 9-out-of-10. It was two free throws by Bennington’s Hudson Neuverth with :15 left in regulation that tied the game at 56. While Wahoo was whistled for 25 fouls, Bennngton only had 17 and was able to intentionally foul Wahoo with 2.9 seconds left. Still, the Warriors barely missed a drive to the basket that would have won the game. In overtime, Austin Kaiser netted two free throws with :17 remaining to put the Badgers ahead 66 – 63. Wahoo could not convert on the ensuing possession and Kaiser netted another free throw to produce the final score.

Bennington took an early 10-4 lead in the contest, but Wahoo responded with a series of three’s, one by Ethan Rabbe and three by Dylan Simons. Wahoo led 16-15 at the end of one. Wahoo pulled away in the second quarter as Kaden Christen scored a three and Cody Hesser posted six points, including a steal and lay-up that gave the Warriors their biggest lead at 31 – 19. Bennington was held to no field goals for the quarter but converted 7-out-of-10 free throws. A Simons drive to the basket at the buzzer gave Wahoo a 33 – 22 lead.

Kip Brigham found Eli Shada open for a layup on the baseline to start the third period, but Bennington went on a nine-point run, including two three’s by Kaiser. Landon Glock came off the bench to score a three for the Warriors and Wahoo was able to stay ahead at the end of three, 48 – 41. Bennington again did most of its damage from the free throw line as they went 7-out-of-8 for the quarter.

The Badgers opened the final period with a three that closed the gap to four. A Shada three kept Wahoo ahead 53-47. Bennington took the lead 54-53 at the 2:30 mark, but a Landon Fye three put Wahoo back in the lead at 56-54. Wahoo got the ball back, but an inbounds turnover with :31 remaining gave Bennington its chance to go to overtime. Both teams committed 14 turnovers for the game, but Wahoo had some costly ones. Twice in overtime the Badgers converted steals into layups.

Simons led the Warriors in scoring with 22 points.

Noteworthy:
Leading Scorer: Dylan Simons 22 pts.; Rebounds -- Dylan Simons 7 ; Assists -- Kip Brigham; Cody Hesser 3 ; Steals-- Dylan Simons 5

Wahoo
freethrows: 9 / 10 90 % ; fieldgoals: 23 / 51 45 % ; three point: 8 / 28 29 %

Bennington
freethrows: 25 / 35 71 % ; fieldgoals: 18 / 45 40 %; three point: 6 / 17 35 %

BENNINGTON STATS