Valley Sports ReportLANSING — Senior Hogan Shaw poured in 28 points, including his 1,000th career point, to help Waverly avoid a letdown after its "emotional win" over Owego Saturday with a 59-52 victory over Lansing here Wednesday night in non-league boys basketball action.
"As a coach you wonder how your team will respond after an emotional win, like ours at Owego in OT," said Waverly coach Lou Judson. "Then you add in the days off from the snow storm and only having only practice to prepare for a 9-3 Lansing team on their home floor, and I was a little concerned.
"We played a solid first quarter and a poor second to be up 9 points at the half," noted Judson.
"I thought going into the fourth up 15 points, we were a few baskets from putting them away, but give credit to Lansing, who kept fighting and knocking down 3s in the fourth quarter.
"We made some timely free throws late to seal a solid road win," added Judson. "We never really executed offensively very well in the half court, an area we need to continue to improve on."
The Wolverines led 44-29 entering the fourth quarter, but the Bobcats closed the gap to single-digits.
Hogan Shaw made seven of eight free-throw attempts down the stretch to seal the win, including one with 1:57 remaining in the contest for his milestone 1,000th point.
"I thought our team was very unselfish in trying to find him throughout the game," said Judson.
"Hogan has worked very hard over the last four years to achieve one of the best high school milestones in basketball," he noted. "Hogan is a basketball savant who has consistently improved since his freshman year. His silky smooth release and range has been something that has always stood out.
"However, I’ve been impressed with how he has improved his overall game to be more of a complete scorer," said Judson. "This accomplishment is the result of teammates over the years setting screens for him and us as a staff putting him in situations to maximize his talents.
"Hogan and his teammates should be very proud," added Judson. "I look forward to the next month of the season to see what we all can accomplish from here."
Shaw knocked down a 3-pointer and scored nine points in the first quarter, while freshman Braiden Judson added four points, and senior Porter Daddona canned a 3-pointer to help Waverly to an 18-10 lead after the opening stanza.
Shaw hit another 3-pointer and scored seven points in the second quarter as Waverly outscored Lansing, 9-8, to take a 27-18 lead into the halftime intermission.
Shaw scored five more points in the third quarter, while Judson and senior Carter Davies drained 3-pointers in a 17-11 run that extended the lead to 44-29 heading into the final eight minutes.
The Bobcats drained four 3-pointers and closed the gap to eight, but Shaw's free throws down the stretch sealed the win.
Daddona added 11 points in the win for the Wolverines, while Judson scored nine, and sophomore Jack Pipher chipped in with four.
Waverly, now 10-4, returns to action Friday at Norwich.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Hogan Shaw (left) and coach Lou Judson. ... PHOTO PROVIDED.
