Warriors Wax Warriors as Westcliff Defeats Nelson

The Nelson Warriors' Men's Basketball team (5-2) opened a brief two-game California road trip with hopes of building onto their three-game road trip, but instead suffered a 96-86 setback at the Westcliff Warriors, battling through a tale of two halves where the home Warriors' efficiency trumped the road Warriors' volume from the field.

Despite pulling ahead by as many as five points in the first half, and maintaining a lead for the majority of it, Nelson struggled to pull away decisively, despite the best efforts of Calvin Windley's 12 points to lead all scorers initially as well as veteran Terin Ross' 9 points to anchor the Warriors' attack and keep them ahead for the time being.

However, where sheer attempts and solid rebounding kept head coach Kole Ebert's squad ahead in the first half, the second half script flipped dramatically, as Westcliff caught fire with blistering accuracy, nailing an astounding 79.2% from the field and 55.6% from beyond the arc (finishing 8-of-16 overall from three) to erupt for 55 points and seize control early, never giving it up.

Despite Nelson's sheer volley volume, launching 19 more field goal attempts than their hosts, the Warriors couldn't match Westcliff's precision, connecting on just 40.0% from the field and 30.0% from deep in the final frame, en route to a 43.7% overall shooting clip compared to Westcliff's scorching 67.3%.

Windley was held to just four points in the second half, finishing with a team-high 15 points to go with a game-high 13 rebounds. Ross was held to just 2 points in the second half finishing with 11, while Zoe Holman and Wyatt Mackay each poured in a balanced 15 points apiece.

For Westcliff, Lorenzo Marsh led all-scorers with 24 points on 9-9 shooting including 5-5 from beyond the arc (and making the only free throw he attempted), while teammate D'montay Warner dropped 21 points on 9-11 from the field.

Up next for the Nelson Warriors is the Master's University Mustangs in Santa Clarita, CA on Wednesday evening at 7:00pm. The Warriors return home for a bout against California Intercontinental University on Monday, November 24 at 7:00pm.

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