By: Eddy Gifford, Publisher

The Dade County Wolverine basketball team finished up the first part of the season last week with three big wins to improve to 11-0 for the season. The Wolverines are currently ranked second in the State Class AA rankings.

On Tuesday night the Wolverines traveled to Ridgeland to face a very good Panther team. Everyone was hoping for a good game and they certainly got that as the Wolverines came from behind late to pick up a big 71-69 win.

The Wolverines got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 24-10 first quarter lead.

The Panthers battled back in the second quarter and by the end of the first half had cut the deficit to six points, 35-29.

Jake Bell hit a three point shot to start the second half and then the Panthers scored the next ten points to take a 39-38 lead.

The Wolverines would quickly retake the lead on another Bell three point shot and by the end of the third quarter were back up by eight, 57-49.

The Panthers continued to give the Wolverines all they wanted and with 4:14 Andrew Houts hit a three point shot for a 66-59 lead.

The Panthers then scored the next eight points and with 1:48 remaining in the game they had a 67-66 lead.

Travis Core put the Wolverines back on top with 1:13 remaining, 68-67 and with 43 seconds remaining the Panthers regained the lead 69-68.

Houts then went to work and with 20 seconds remaining hit a big basket to put the Wolverines up 70-69.

The Panthers then turned the ball over and with .06 seconds remaining Travis Core hit a free throw for the final point in a huge 71-69 win.

Andrew Houts led all scorers with 31 points. Jake Bell added 16 and Travis Core scored 13.

After that big win the Wolverines hosted the Ider Hornets on Friday night.

Coming out red hot the Wolverines put up 39 first quarter points to take a 39-13 lead.

The hot shooting continued in the second quarter as the Wolverines added another 26 points. The Hornets picked up the pace some but still trailed 65-36 at the end of the first half.

By the end of third quarter the Wolverines had put the game away, leading 97-50.

When the smoke had cleared from the hot shooting Wolverines they had their 10 win of the season 114-62.

The Wolverines hit 18 three-point shots in the game; five each by Jake Bell, Andrew Houts and Houston Moon, while Travis Core and Chance Kesler added a pair each.

Travis Core led all scorers with 26 points followed by Andrew Houts with 25, Houston Moon with 19, Jake Bell 15 and Andrew Reid 13. Reid also had 10 rebounds and Core had 14 assists.

On Saturday night the Wolverines traveled to North Sand Mountain.

The Bison’s stayed with the Wolverines throughout the first half. The Wolverines were up 46-35 at halftime.

The Wolverines turned up the heat in the third quarter outscoring the host 34-22 to build an 80-57 lead.

The Wolverine style of play wore on the Bison’s and when the final buzzer sounded they had their eleventh win of the season 108-74.

Andrew Houts led the Wolverines with 38 points followed by Ben Patton with 17, Travis Core with 15, Jake Bell 12 and Houston Moon 11.

Travis Core had a triple double in the game as he had 12 rebounds and 10 assist to go along with his 15 points.

Andrew Reid again grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Wolverines will now have a long break for Christmas. They will be back in action on Jan. 2 when they travel to Ider.

The next games at home will not be until Jan. 8th and 9th when they face a good Rockmart team and the Ridgeland Panthers.