The Warrior basketball team played a strong four quarter game defeating previously unbeaten Alliance 56-51 on Friday night.  The Warriors improve to 3-3 on the season and 3-0 in the EBC.

Alliance entered the game scoring just under 70 points per game, but were held to a season low 51 points tonight thanks to a stifling defense that continuously forced contested shots all night.  West Branch held the Aviators to just 15 first half points building a 29-15 lead at the break.  Alliance was able to chip away at the lead early in the fourth quarter bringing the score to six before West Branch once again answered, stretching its lead back to 11 with under 5 minutes to play.  A few missed free throws late allowed Alliance to trim the lead to one possession, but the Aviators would get no closer as the Jeremiah Thomas hit two clutch free throws with under 5 seconds to play to seal the victory.

Thomas led all scorers tonight with 19 points including three triples.  On a night the Warriors shot under 50% from the line, Thomas was the exception, as he was 6-6 from the charity stripe including the clinching free throws at the end.  Grady Hirst helped the Warriors jump out to an early lead with seven quick points and would finish with 11 points and five assists.  Kasen Weaver finished in double digits with 10 points including two from behind the arc.  Gavin Gregroy finished the night with eight points and six boards and Zach Coffee led all Warriors with seven rebounds. Landon Coffee chipped in six points and five rebounds as the Warriors out rebounded the Aviators 31-26. Brock Woost picked up big minutes in the second half and finished with one point and three rebounds.

Up Next:  The Warriors will travel to South Range on Tuesday, December 23rd for a non-conference matchup against the Raiders.  Tip off is scheulded around 6:45.