Dec 31, 2024
Waterford’s Avery Wagner (30) looks to pass as Sheridan’s Halle Warner (2) defends during Monday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. Wagner scored her 1,000th career point in the game. (Photo by Jordan Holland)
WATERFORD — Avery Wagner scored her 1,000th career point in Waterford’s matchup with Sheridan Monday night at the Harry Cooper Annex, but it was the Division III Generals who left with a 36-26 triumph, handing the D7 Wildcats their first loss of the season.
Wagner entered Monday’s contest needing five points to reach the milestone. At the 5:50 mark in the first quarter, she hit a 3-pointer off an assist from Avery Smithberger. Later with 3:18 to go in the period, Wagner received a post-entry pass from Kendall Sury and put up a turnaround shot off the glass and in to join Waterford’s 1,000-point club.
Wagner celebrated with her teammates and coaches as the game was stopped momentarily. Her basket had cut Sheridan’s lead to 10-7.
A scoring drought for both teams followed as no points were scored again until the 6:03 mark in the second when Sheridan’s Halle Warner knocked down one of her four 3-pointers in the game.
The Generals (7-3) were up eight when Waterford went on a 7-0 run. Ava Hurley hit a pair of free throws before Sury, who led the Wildcats with nine points, scored five straight to make it 15-14. Payton Powell answered with a 3-pointer to give Sheridan an 18-14 advantage at halftime.
Waterford’s Kendall Sury, right, guards Sheridan’s Ava Heller during Monday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Jordan Holland)
The opening minutes of the third quarter proved to be a key stretch in the game as the Generals scored six straight points to go up by 10, 24-14. On a night where Waterford shot just 32.3% (10 for 31) and committed 25 turnovers, that deficit was too much to overcome.
The Wildcats (10-1) cut Sheridan’s lead to seven three times but never got closer.
Warner’s 12 points were a game-high to go along with six rebounds. Ava Heller added 10 points, four steals and three assists while Powell chipped in seven points, seven steals and six boards. Addi Shaeffer hit a pair of 3-pointers for six points.
Wagner finished the night with eight points, 10 rebounds and six blocks. Smithberger had six rebounds and four assists while Sury tallied four steals. Elsie Malec added seven boards for the Wildcats, who welcome Newark Catholic at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
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