It was opening day for the West Branch boys basketball team, and after a long offseason, the players were eager to get back on the court. They faced a tough challenge in Akron Garfield, a team brimming with talent and athleticism.

Right from the start, Garfield used their speed and pressure defense to force turnovers, converting them into easy points. Junior Gavin Gregory came out strong, scoring five points in the first quarter, including three free throws after drawing contact with his 6'7" frame. At the end of the first, Garfield led 23-14.

West Branch fought back in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to just five points at 28-23 with 4:11 remaining. Joey Jackson hit a tough three-pointer that seemed to spark his team, and momentum appeared to be shifting in their favor. The Rams, however, responded by ramping up their defensive pressure, dominating the final 4:11, and taking a commanding 41-28 lead into halftime.

In the second half, Cooper Anderson provided the spark his team needed, chipping in with eight third-quarter points. West Branch continued to battle, but Garfield responded with timely shots, maintaining a 14-point lead after three quarters. The Warriors cut the lead to six points in the fourth, but their efforts fell short as they ultimately lost, 72-57.

West Branch had three players score in double figures, with Cooper Anderson leading the way with 16 points, followed by Gavin Gregory with 14, and Joey Jackson with 10. Kasen Weaver added seven points and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

The Warriors drop to 0-1 on the season and will have a week to regroup before returning to action next Friday. They will host Minerva in their first EBC contest of the season. Tip-off for the JV game is at 5:30 p.m., followed by the varsity game at 6:45 p.m.