Medomak Valley boys basketball team defeated Oceanside 61-52 Friday night in the two teams’ KVAC season opener. The Mariners led briefly 3-1 in the early going, before the Panthers rattled off eight straight points, on baskets from Micah Williamson, Colton Spear, and Zach Starr and two foul shots from Nicholas DePatsy, to take the lead.
Medomak led 19-10 at the quarter, 34-25 at the half. Oceanside tied the game in the third quarter on a three-pointer from Nick Judge with 2:43 to go. The Panthers outscored them 6-1 down the stretch to take a five-point lead 47-42 into the final period. Williamson scored on a Hunter Wincapaw feed, and Hunter Baughman scored two baskets on feeds from Williamson in the rally.
Oceanside twice pulled within a basket in the fourth quarter. With a three point lead with two minutes to play, Medomak spread the floor and went into a stall, forcing Oceanside to foul.
The Panthers had the golden touch at the line, sinking seven of eight foul shots in the final 1:45, led by DePatsy (6/6). Williamson hit a big hoop with a minute to play on a pass from DePatsy to give Medomak an eight-point lead. Judge pulled the Mariners withing five with 40 seconds to play with a three-pointer. DePatsy scored four foul shots in the final 25 seconds of play to put the game away.
Four Medomak players scored in double figures, led by DePatsy 14 (7R,3A), Spear 11 (6R), Starr 11 (2A), Williamson 10 (7R,8A), Baughman 6 (3R), Michael Wadsworth 5, Wincapaw 2 (2R,2A), and Zach Little 2 (2R,2A). Scoring for Oceanside were Isaiah Stone-Patterson 22 (6S), Hunter Grindle 10 (7R), David Gould 7 (5R), Judge 7 (2S), Nick Mazurek 3 (5R), and Zach Peaco 2.