The outcome was still in limbo as the teams went to the first half break with Stillwater nosing in front.

The Warriors played team basketball in the second stanza turning a 4-point first quarter deficit into a 2-point halftime advantage. They held the Wildcats scoreless for the first four plus minutes of the quarter grabbing a 20-18 lead at the break.

Stillwater opened up an eight point cushion midway through the fourth period, 36-28, only to see Maple Hill go on a 6-0 run after a Brady Cole hoop and consecutive baskets from Ben Marra.

 

The Wildcats trailed by four points, 43-39, with under a minute left in the game when Colby Frazier hit a bucket and was fouled to cut the lead to one, 43-42. After a couple of clutch free throws from Stillwater's CJ McNeil, Maple Hill had one last chance to tie the game up after a held ball with six seconds left in regulation down by three points, 45-42. With the ball on the far left corner out of bounds, the Wildcats worked it all the way around to the right corner where Ethan Harrington nearly nailed a tough buzzer beating fadeaway three point attempt to tie the game up. The Warriors hung on for the victory.

Jaxon Mueller put forth a strong offensive game for Stillwater with 16 points. CJ McNeil scored 16 points as well. Lukas Lilac poured in 5 points.

Ben Marra paced Maple Hill with 19 points. Brady Cole contributed 8 points. Ethan Harrington connected on 7 points. Brody Rogers notched 5 points.