Balanced Attack Powers William Penn Past Oak Hills Christian
Oskaloosa–The William Penn men’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday night, rolling to a 105–68 victory over Oak Hills Christian in nonconference action.
The Statesmen (11–5) opened the game with authority, racing out to a 12–0 lead. Oak Hills Christian (1–8) responded to briefly seize a 21–19 advantage, but William Penn quickly reasserted control with a 13–2 run. The two teams traded baskets down the stretch of the half, sending the Navy and Gold into the locker room with a 40–30 lead.
William Penn shot 43.2% from the field in the opening half but struggled from long range at 15.8%. Daivion Boleware (Jr., Jackson, Mich., Psychology) led the early scoring with nine points, while Foday Sheriff (Sr., Upper Darby, Pa., Business Management) anchored the defense with eight rebounds.
Any momentum Oak Hills Christian hoped to carry into the second half was short-lived. The Statesmen opened the period with a decisive 21–5 run and followed it with another 13–3 surge to put the game out of reach. With seven minutes remaining, Gabe Hora (Fr., University Park, Iowa, Sports Management) caught fire, pouring in 15 points over a four-minute stretch. His outburst pushed William Penn past the 100-point mark—securing 25¢ hot dogs for next Wednesday’s home game.
For the night, William Penn shot 48.1% from the field and 27.5% from beyond the arc. Oak Hills Christian finished at 42.1% overall and 42.3% from three-point range. The Statesmen created a significant advantage in shot opportunities, attempting 81 field goals compared to just 57 for the Wolfpack.
Balance defined the William Penn offense, with every scorer posting at least eight points. Hora led the way with 20 points, while Boleware and Chase Page (Sr., Melbourne, Australia, Business Management) added 13 apiece. Javin Tindall (Jr., Albuquerque, N.M., Sports Management) chipped in 12 points.
Sheriff recorded another double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Ryan Robinson (Sr., Chicago, Ill., Business Management) contributed eight boards.
The Statesmen dominated the glass with a 48–28 rebounding advantage, including a 19–4 edge on the offensive boards that led to 33 second-chance points.
William Penn also controlled the turnover battle, committing just seven miscues while forcing 18 Wolfpack turnovers that resulted in 37 points. The bench played a major role, accounting for 50 points, as the Statesmen also held advantages in fast-break scoring (18–0) and assists (25–12).
Up Next: William Penn travels to Olathe, Kan., to face MidAmerica Nazarene in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
