Making up games from Tuesday earlier in the week, it was a tightly contested Twin Valley League double-header as Wetmore hosted Doniphan West on Thursday. Both games came down to the final possession. 

GIRLS = Doniphan West 42, Wetmore 40

Both teams entered this first meeting of the year on winning streak as Wetmore had won four straight and Doniphan West extended their win streak to six consecutive. The Mustangs hit a couple early treys and forced several turnovers to jump out to a 16-6 lead and they were ahead 22-8 early in the second quarter. Wetmore battled back to a 22-14 score at halftime and was still down eight points entering the fourth period. 

Doniphan West could not close the door as they missed a pair of one-and-one free throws in the final minute. Wetmore got a bucket from Kenzie Strathman with 18 second left to pull within 42-40. But after another missed Mustangs free throw with 10 seconds to play, Wetmore missed a transition layup and another jumper on an in-bounds play as time expired to fall just short. 

The Cardinals had 25 turnovers on the night as was led by Reagan Osterhaus with 20 points while fellow 6-foot forward Strathman added 11 before Wetmore dropped to 13-6 on the season and 7-4 in the TVL. 

Doniphan West used their depth and aggressive defense to play with a lead all night and got 34 points off the bench as Avery Weathersbee led the way with 14 points, Chloe Clevenger added 10 and Myah Olson had 8. D-West is now 14-3 overall and 9-1 in the TVL. 

BOYS = Wetmore 45, Doniphan West 42

A 14-2 Wetmore run gave the home team a 14-9 lead and the Cards held a 16-13 advantage at the half. The biggest lead was 28-18 in the third stanza and Wetmore was still ahead 30-24 entering the fourth frame. Yet, a handful of turnovers down the stretch gave D-West a chance and the Mustangs pulled within two on a basket by Trent Spiker (32-30) with 17 second left and again after a couple free throws by Eric Bloom of Wetmore as Lafe Blevins connected to make it 34-32 with nine ticks remaining. The Mustangs got the ball back but missed a potential tying three at the buzzer.  

Both teams had 20 turnovers on the night and struggled to find much flow or rhythm on the offensive end. Braden Henry had 13 points and Jacob Karls scored 10 for Wetmore while Spiker had 13 and Blevins 10 for the Mustangs.  D-West is now 8-10 while Wetmore improved to 11-8 overall locking up their first winning boys basketball season in a long long time. 

Both teams are back on the court Friday as Doniphan West plays at Linn and Wetmore host Cornerstone. 

Citizens State Bank and Trust Company of Hiawatha "Players to Bank On:"

Avery Weathersbee of Doniphan West and Jacob Karls from Wetmore.