Wildcats continue to look for first ‘11 win
With just a handful of games left yet on their schedule, the varsity boys basketball team at Paden City High School is still battling opposing teams for their first victory of the year. Just because they have yet to win, does not mean the team is not determined. They remain committed to the cause, have continued to improve with every outing and take on all comers in the name of competition.
Hosting Bishop Donahue at Bob Burton Gymnasium on Jan. 25, the ‘Cats fell to the Bishops, 67-30. Scoring only nine points in the first half hindered the Green and White, but they bounced back to added 21 in the second.
Geoffrey Bidwell led all Paden City scorers in the game with 10. He also pulled down two boards and stole the ball from the Bishops twice. Zach Yost added eight points, pulled down six rebounds, and was credited with two steals and three assists; Taylor Still, scored four points, had two rebounds and one steal; Trey Leonard added four points, had five boards and one steal; Drew Bidwell, two points, one rebound, two steals and two assists; Jamie Billiter, two points, one rebound and a steal. John Bates had one rebound; Jefferson Palmer had one rebound.
The Wildcats faced off with Williamstown at home on Jan. 27 and though they were outmatched offensively, the home team changed up their defense to have the Jackets scrambling at times.
The Yellow Jackets came away with the win, 75-31.
The lone senior on Paden City’s team, Zach Yost, led all Wildcat scorers in the game with 13. Yost also pulled down 11 rebounds and was credited with four assists. Geoffrey Bidwell totaled 11 points in the effort, had three rebounds and one assist; Drew Bidwell added five points, grabbed three rebounds and had two assists; and Trey Leonard tacked on two points, had four rebounds and stole the ball once.
Bates pulled down two rebounds; Still had one assist; and Billiter had one rebound and one assist.
At St. John Central on Saturday, Paden City’s perseverance nearly paid off with a win as they battled with the Irish to a 48-43 loss.
Without the 25 point effort by St. John in the first period of play, the ‘Cats would have been sitting pretty for the win. As it was the Irish led the Wildcats 36-25 at the half. In the second half, Paden City’s defense held the home team to only 12 points, but could not get the ball to fall to add more points to their own side of the scoreboard.
Yost led all Wildcat scorers with 16 points, had four rebounds, two steals and five assists in the game. Still added eight points, had three rebounds; Geoffrey Bidwell scored eight, grabbed two rebounds, stole the ball once and was credited with two assists; Jamie Billiter, six points, three rebounds one steal; Leonard, scored three points, pulled down nine boards; and Drew Bidwell addedtwo points, had four rebounds and three assists.
The Wildcats will play in the Hometown Tournament Feb. 1 – 12, and then gear up for OVAC play-offs. The last regular season game for the Green and White is scheduled for Feb. 21, which will likely be designated as senior night.