WELLINGTON – The Wellington Wolverines had their undefeated record and playoff dreams on the line tonight against the Boca Raton Bobcats.
Texan Moulton would start the game off with a monster slam dunk for the Wolverines. A pair of three pointers by Bryan Wiliams and Johnathan Philistin would follow Moulton’s act to give Wellington a quick 8-2 lead over Boca Raton.
The Wolverines aggressiveness on offense and defense gave them a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Cade Long would get things rolling for the Bobcats early in the second by making a layup in traffic and pulling up for a jump shot from the free throw, which cut the Wolverines lead down to single digits. Long would make two long range three pointers midway through the second to pull Boca within five.
Long would rack up a total of 17 points in the second, while guard Maxime Demeus would add in a three late in the second to send Boca into halftime down just 31-27 to Wellington.
Brendan Chisholm would pull Boca Raton within four midway through the third quarter and Wellington’s Linton Brown would answer back with a fast break slam dunk. Wellington’s defensive pressure would keep the surging Bobcats at bay late in the third to give the home team a 43-35 lead.
Boca Raton’s Peter Senatus would start the fourth quarter with a huge momentum-shifting three pointer. Long wouldn’t be far behind him with a floating layup that cut Wellington’s lead to five.
Long would show up again with a little under four minutes left in the fourth and knock down a three pointer to close Wellington’s lead down to 46-43.
With a little over a minute left in the fourth and the score sitting at 48-45, Williams – one of Wellington’s standouts – would foul out of the game. And with a minute left, Chisholm would tie the game up 49-49 after knocking down two free throws.
But Wellington would seal the deal, as Cornelius Butler would make two clutch free throws with 14 seconds left in the game to edge out Boca Raton in a 51-49 playoff win.
Leading scorers for each team
Wellington: Nico Toledo with 11 points
Boca Raton: Cade Long with 28 points
