WMU downs Nikes in late thriller

WEST BURLINGTON — Basketball fans got everything they could ask for in the highly touted Southeast Iowa Super Conference shootout game between SEISC North second seed Winfield-Mt. Union and the South’s second seeded Notre Dame.

The Wolves came into the clash on a three-game winning streak, while the Nikes’ streak was up to seven straight.

When all was said and done in a game that never saw either team down by more than six points, it was the Wolves staying the course with a 53-52 victory over the Nikes.

It took every single second to decide a winner, but in the end, it was the hustle and clutch play making from the Wolves that made the difference.

With 51.2 remaining and the game tied at 51-51, Notre Dame’s Spencer Brent split at the foul line to give the Nikes a 52-51 lead.

On the next possession, with a chance to take the lead, the Wolves were striped of the ball and Notre Dame’s got a look at a layup. But the layup attempt was block by Wolves’ star Cam Buffington, who hustled down the floor and originally fell for the pump fake, but proceeded to block it with his foot.

“It’s just hustling,” Buffington said. “I’m trying to be everywhere at once. I fall for pump fakes a lot. I like to jump for everything. I was just trying to find a way to make a play.”

The ball then found the hands of Abram Edwards, who had to fend off a trio of Nikes. Edwards then threw the ball to Caleb Giese who threw a lobbed pass that was eventually tipped in the air and grabbed by Buffington, who scored the easy lay-in with just seven seconds remaining and the Wolves leading 53-52.

“I was just trying to not turn the ball over,” Edwards said. “I was just trying to get it to a teammate so we could have a chance to score.”

With a chance to win the game themselves, the Nikes were a pair of times by the Wolves.

With just 4.2 remaining, Notre Dame elected to lob the ball from the inbound, but Buffington made the leap to pick off the pass and seal one of Winfield-Mt. Union’s biggest wins of the season.

“We haven’t been in a whole lot of those situations yet, so we talked about it,” Winfield-Mt. Union head coach Klay Edwards said. “I though we fouled them in the right spots on the court and it was great execution by the kids.”

Both teams teeter tottered back and forth through the night.

Winfield-Mt. Union held control for much of the first half as the Wolves were at a disadvantage in the opening half on just four occasions at 6-4, 8-7 in the first quarter and 21-19, 21-10 in the second quarter.

The inside out game was working for the Wolves as they attacked with a mix battling down low and hitting the outside shot.

“We talk about the inside out game all the time,” Edwards said. “I can’t put a percentage on it, but I tell them if you throw it inside and kick it back out for a three, your percentage on that shot goes way up. We had guys step up, like Caleb Giese hit some huge shots for us.”

The largest lead in the game came with just over two minutes to go as Abram Edwards scored a pair to put the Wolves up six, 27-21. Notre Dame hit a pair from threes in the final minute to make it a two point game heading into the half, 29-27.

Notre Dame came out with vengeance in the third period. The Nikes opened the period with a 9-4 run to go up 38-33, their largest lead of the night.

After a Buffington dunk and a free throw from the Nikes, Jake Edwards brought the Wolves to within one heading into the fourth with a three ball, 39-38.

In the fourth, the largest lead was three points held by the Nikes with 3:16 to go in the game.

Abram Edwards got the Wolves right into it less than 10 seconds later on a converted three-point play. Edwards then scored a pair to make it 51-49.

A three by Notre Dame tied it at 51, but the Wolves were able to win it off the Buffington lay-in.

“We’re starting to play better as a team again,” Buffington said. “Playing good and playing well together, that gives us all the confidence.”

Buffington led the Wolves with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Abram Edwards tallied 12 points. Caleb Giese and Jake Edwards both finished with eight. Carter Loyd ended with eight. Andrew Brown added three.

“This win gives us a lot of confidence,” Edward said. “We had a lot of guys step up for us and play their best games of the year. Carter Loyd got his first dunk. We will be feeling good moving forward.”