WEBSTER

surrendered a surge from the Tornadoes that included a 5-0 run in the final minute to give Philadelphia a lead it wouldn't relinquish at 31-30.

East Webster struggled to score in the fourth and when it did score, it couldn't get the stops that it needed to get fully back in the game. The Tornadoes grew the lead as much as 42-34 on a 3-pointer with 2:45 left, but the Wolverines didn't stop battling.

With the clock down to 10 seconds and the deficit at three points, East Webster got a steal with a chance to cut into it but traveled with the basketball. That was the last real chance to get even.

“Credit them, they kept us off balanced all night and we never could get in a flow or a rhythm,”ginn said.“they make you play slow and all of their scores are in the 30s and 40s. We just couldn't adjust to that style of play. We never did really get into them pressure-wise like we do some other teams and I was really disappointed with our defensive intensity and that's got to change.”

Cael Chrismond was the lone Wolverine in double figures in the low-scoring contest. He had 15 points in defeat.

East Webster (3-5) is playing several players, but Ginn is still trying to find the right rotations and roles for his team. With Hamilton coming up tonight at home at 7:30 p.m., Ginn wants to see his team starting to tighten up.

Class 2A, Region 2 games are quickly coming up for the Wolverines and the games that matter the most will soon be here. Becoming a more cohesive unit is the key.

“We've just got to trust each other,” Ginn said. “We've got a lot of guys who can play and we're trying to play a lot of guys and that can be a good problem or that can be a bad problem. I'd like to see us come together more as a unit. Trust the guys going into replace you, be able to play your hardest and if you're not out there, be supportive on the bench. If we can do that, we can be successful.”

Girls Game East Webster 42, Philadelphia 37

In another low scoring game that preceded the boys contest, the Lady Wolverines relied heavily on the defense and got a huge contribution from the bench on the way to a come-from-behind win over the Lady Tornadoes.

After a poor third quarter that saw East Webster trail 3126 with just six points scored, coach Courtney O'briantwright challenged her team to get the job done. That's exactly what it did in the fourth.

A 10-2 run got the Lady Wolverines the lead back and they wouldn't lose it as the defense got the stops it needed for the win.

After leading 13-9 in the first and 22-17 at halftime, the Lady Wolverines needed a wake up call following a slow third quarter. Da'nasia Logan got the team the lead back on a 3-pointer with 4:24 left to make it 36-33 and Culpepper took double teams and dished off a trio of assists to her teammates to help maintain that lead. There were some big defensive plays down the stretch from Logan, Conner and Karra Mae Johnson for the win.

East Webster moved to 4-4 this season with Hamilton tonight at home at 6.