Wolverines pull away in final quarter to reach district title game

MABEN – Calhoun City has seemingly owned the basketball series over East Webster for the last several years and most of the Wolverines had no clue what a win over the Wildcats felt like until they got it earlier in the year.

East Webster head coach Michael Seger felt like that played a factor in Thursday afternoon’s semifinal game in the Class 2A, Region 2 Tournament in Cumberland and it took a while for the Wolverines to realize they were superior. When they did, though, it was game over. Led by 12 fourth-quarter points by Isaac Patterson and a 14-0 run in the final frame, East Webster clinched a championship berth winning 68-55.

“Our team just came together and played together,” Patterson said. “Our team symbol is a fist and it symbolizes us coming together as one. The seniors responded. We expected to win so

we motivated each other to do better.”

Patterson was steady for all four quarters in the game but showed up the biggest in the final quarter. He finished with 25 points on 11-of-14 shooting in the game. It helped the Wolverines (21-4) get past their shooting woes from distance as they went 7-of-27 from 3-point range.

Art Thompson also finished with double digits as he scored 12 points.

The game had a frenetic first few minutes as East Webster fired up some missed 3-pointers but were out to a 10-6 lead within the first 3 minutes. It slowed down the rest of the quarter and the Wolverines led Calhoun City 14-12.

It was 28-21 at halftime but East Webster couldn’t help but feel points were being left on the court. The Wildcats had held the Wolverines to 2-of-18 from long range while East Webster hit 10-of-12 inside the arc.

The missed shots allowed the Wildcats to stay in the game and eventually take the lead on a 9-0 run midway through the quarter. The Wolverines eventually got that lead back with the 46-43 advantage after three quarters, but it was very much a game at that point.

“I thought we kept settling,” Seger said. “I told them in the fourth quarter that we were the experienced team and we had more weapons than they do. We were patient and shared the ball well.”

Patterson scored six points in the middle of that 14-0 run that pushed the lead to 60-43 and Calhoun City never got back in it. It was as high as 20 points with 1 minute left before the Wolverines won it by 13.

That now sets up a championship game showdown for East Webster tonight at home against a talented Leflore County squad. The Wolverines have clinched a home game in the playoffs next week, but a win gets them two of them and means that the road to Jackson would go through Cumberland.

“I feel like we’re playing well, but we’re not at our full potential yet,” Patterson said. “When we play at our full potential, that’s going to be fun to watch. We need people to come out and support us now.”