Perhaps it was only fitting the game between the Winder-Barrow High School boys basketball team and the Apalachee High School Wildcats came down to the wire.
The Wildcats were coming off a game where they almost upset Monroe Area three nights earlier and coach Kevin Morris’ team looked determined to get the upset this time.
WBHS, however, showed, they were just as determined and held on for a 53-46 victory at AHS. It wasn’t easy, but then again, it seldom is in rivalry games.
D.J. Butler scored 23 points to lead coach David Sokol’s Bulldoggs including four clutch free throws in the fourth quarter. DeVaughn Kilgore scored 15 points and had 11 points to lead Apalachee, which trailed by just three points in the final minute. John Ansley finished with 11 for the Wildcats.
“The four-point play inside the last minute was huge,” said AHS coach Kevin Morris. “We had a layup taken away from us and they had two free throws. That was a big swing.”
The Wildcat coach said his team “played hard” and had “no careless turnovers.”
“Overall, I was happy with how they played,” Morris said.
“Last week was tough because we had opportunities to beat both Monroe and Winder. You are out and everyone says you played hard but I’m tired of moral victories. I’m ready for a real one. Hopefully, we are getting closer.”
The win Saturday, coupled with Friday’s victory against Madison County, improved the WBHS Bulldoggs to 16-4 and 9-2 in region play.
WBHS is ranked No. 10 in the latest Georgia Sports Writers Association poll for AAAA.
WBHS and AHS will meet again Saturday in a game postponed from earlier this season because of weather conditions.