Wharton stuns Blake with double digit comeback in the fourth, 59-56.
Wharton trailed by 11 to start the fourth quarter and as many as 13 late in the third.
Early in the contest, Wharton struggled from the free throw line. Xavier Owens was able to attack the basket and draw the foul possession after possession. However, all but one of his free throws were off the mark and had the 'Cats looking at an 8-point loss at the half.
Frustration compelled the Wildcats as they walked off the floor and into the locker room.
After the intermission, Blake came out as hot as they left. The Yellow Jackets pushed their lead to 13 points within the first few minutes of the third and Wharton began to look discouraged.
Behind the three-point shooting of Damian Dixon and AJ Astroth the Wildcats were able to chunk away at the lead early in the fourth.
With under three minutes to play, Astroth found himself at the baseline beyond the three-point line and the ball in his hand. Astroth shot the ball over a Blake defender and hit nothing but net. Wharton's bench and followers erupted. The Jackets' lead was cut to just two points.
Blake would continue to fight. The Jackets' point guard would make back to back jump shots with a hand in his face. Clinched fist, muscles flexed the point guard was single-handedly keeping Blake ahead by 6.
On the ensuing possession, Owens came up big with a made basket and the foul. X-man sunk the free throw and put the Wildcats back within striking distance. On the next Wharton possession, Owens would add another bucket, cutting the deficit to just one point.
Blake struggled to find a decent look, forced a tough shot and Wharton rebounded. On the Wildcat possesion, Owens was fouled on the layup attempt. He was sent to the line, hit the first to tie but missed the second.
Blake would rebound on the Owens miss.
Blake swung the ball around the perimeter and then threw the ball back to the top of the key but Dixon telegraphed the pass, tipped the ball away and finished on the other end to give Wharton their first lead since the opening minutes of the game.
Blake would draw a shooting foul on their next possession but managed only one of two free throws. Dixon rebounded the ball, fouled and was then awarded a one-and-one free throw on the other end.
With 16 seconds to play Dixon sunk both free throws and pushed the Wharton lead to 3. After a Wildcat timeout, Wharton fouled twice to make sure no easy attempt was taken. After the second foul Blake couldn't get the look they wanted and the deep 3-point attempt hit nothing and Wharton pulled off the comeback.
Owens, Dixon and Astroth hit clutch shot after clutch shot down the final stretch and Torres rebounded the missed Jacket shots to inch back into the game. When it mattered the most, Wharton came up big.
As the clock expired the Wharton bench erupted and the players greeted one another at center court. Coach Tommy Tonelli threw his hands up in the air and the Wharton fans jumped in celebration.
Wharton improves to 6-1 (2-0) and has now won four-consecutive contests.
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