BRANDON ? It’s official. The Oxford varsity basketball team is among the elite teams in the Flint Metro League.
The Wildcats stunned undefeated Brandon, 59-52, on Tuesday night and are now tied with the Blackhawks for first place in the FML.
Coach Steve Laidlaw said the game was the best his squad has played this year.
‘When you beat an undefeated team on their own floor and get back in the league race, it doesn’t get any better than that,? he said.
Brandon was 7-0 overall heading into the game. The loss leaves Oxford in a tie with Brandon atop the FML with one loss each. Oxford’s only league loss was to Lapeer West.
The victory against the Blackhawks was no fluke either. The Wildcats led nearly the entire game, sometimes by as many as 13 points. The Blackhawks cut the lead to three in the fourth quarter but the Wildcats never buckled and hit free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Foul trouble has plagued Oxford in nearly every game but on this night it was Brandon starters who fouled out, including two of their leading scorers.
Brad Dugan hit six points in the first quarter while Tim Ketelhut netted five to lead the Wildcats to a 13-13 tie after on quarter.
Ketelhut then hit five points to start the second quarter while the Cats put a stifling defense on the Blackhawks, holding them scoreless for the first 5:30 of the quarter while mounting a 26-13 lead.
Brandon scored only five points in the quarter and trailed 26-18 at halftime.
Twice in the third quarter the Blackhawks cut Oxford’s lead to two points but each time Brandon Dugan hit clutch buckets to extend the Cats? leads.
A bucket off a rebound by Billy Keenist with one second left in the third quarter put the Wildcats up by eight points, 43-35.
Brandon cut Oxford’s lead to three points twice in the quarter but the Cats hit shots when they needed them. In the final three minutes, Brad Dugan hit four free throws while his brother, Brandon, hit seven of 10 free throws down the stretch to secure Oxford’s win.
The victory was satisfying for Laidlaw.
‘This says a lot about our team and the commitment we’re making.? he said.
Laidlaw praised the play of Brandon Dugan, especially in the second half, and Brad Dugan who played his best game of the season. It was the first time this season that Brad Dugan played most of the game without being in foul trouble.
‘It’s a big victory and we have to take it from here. We’re right in the race now.?
The Wildcats also faced a tough foe last Friday but hung on for a 58-54 victory over Linden. Brandon Dugan led the Cats in scoring with 14 points while Brad Dugan and Alan Willar each netted 12.