By Ben Goldstein
The boysâ basketball team defeated Loyola last night 68-64 in Taper Gym, thanks in part to the play of 6â6â Damiene Cain â11. Cain, whom head coach Greg Hilliard calls a âfreshman phenom,â led the Wolverines in scoring with 19 points and in rebounds with 11.
The score was close throughout the entire game, and the Wolverines went into halftime down 32-29. With just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter, the team took the lead. The squad entered the fourth quarter leading the Cubs 47-45.
After the teams came back from a timeout with 4:22 remaining in the game with the score tied at 54-54, the Wolverines began to pull away. Loyola fouled the Wolverines every time they touched the ball in the final minute to try to stay in the game, but it was not enough. Erik Swoopeâs â10 two free throws sealed the deal with 18.9 seconds remaining in the game to make the score 66-59. Despite a Loyola layup and an additional three point play in the final seconds, the Wolverines maintained their lead and won 68-64.
Although team leader Renaldo Woolridge â08 struggled to score in the first half, he finished the game with 13 points.
As the Wolverines and Cubs duked it out on the court, the two teamsâ fans battled each other from the stands. Hostile chanting wars took place throughout the game, as Wolverine and Cubs fans tried to drown each other out in noise.
