Blake Shoufler in the 4th quarter against Meridian. Photo Courtesy of Easton Blankenship.
1st Half- Williamsville came into their second game of the year against Meridian knowing they were playing a formidable opponent. However, Williamsville found themselves down 13-6 late in the first quarter, after Sebastian Hill hit four shots in a row. Brecken Thomas, who was guarding him, said "He's a great offensive player, and I knew I was going to have to be locked in to guard him. He started the game hot and hit some impressive shots, but I knew that I had to keep my head down and stay on him." Williamsville got a very important buzzer-beater three from Blake Shoufler near mid-court. Blake jokingly said after the game "I don't know how I made that shot, but I knew that I had to get something up, and I'm glad that one found the bottom of the net." Williamsville used that momentum going into the second quarter when Brecken Thomas was able to hit two threes, and Brayden Saling hit a three of his own. However, the Bullet momentum was stopped when Sebastian Hill hit a three at the buzzer for Meridian, giving the Hawks a 29-22 lead at the half.
3rd Quarter Injury- The Sebastian Hill buzzer-beater transferred a lot of momentum toward the Hawks. Early in the third, Meridian went on a 7 to 2 run before Williamsville PG Blake Shoufler went down on the court. After Blake made a basket, he tried to steal a loose ball away on the floor and he hit the top of his eyebrow on the hard floor and busted it open. Dave Root Court went silent as Blake made his way into the trainer's office, uncertain if he would return. Blake said "I was upset, to say the least when I was being taken out, but I knew that if there was any possibility that I was able to return, I was going to."
Williamsville Bullets Boys Basketball team huddle against Meridian. Photo courtesy Easton Blankenship.
"Blake-less" Bullets- After Shoufler got hurt, Williamsville needed someone to step it up, and Brecken was that guy. Brecken Thomas hit another three, then a little later he stole the ball away, and slammed on the other end. A play that got the Williamsville side cranking on all cylinders. Brecken told the Wire after the game that "Blake is a huge leader for us, and when he went down, the team and the crowd kind of lost some morale, especially since we were already losing. I knew that I and others had to step it up, and I knew we had to keep everything in check, just in case he did come back in.
Guess Who's Back- Brecken's ambitions were correct. Late in the third, Blake Shoufler stormed back from Kurt Turner's Office and immediately back into the game. When Blake left the Bullets were down by 10, and when he returned they were down by just 3. At the start of the fourth Carson Kohler missed a free throw, he was able to get the rebound and find Shoufler, and he knocked down a huge three to bring the Bullets within 1. He then went on to hit a couple of free throws, and a contested layup and knocked down another three. Meridian was able to pull it within 4, but Williamsville's Reid Bodine hit some important insurance shots to seal the deal for the Bullets.
Bullets Pull it Out- Blake said "Tonight was tough, and we couldn't have done it without each other. Brecken hit some huge shots tonight including a dunk when I was gone. Reid and Brayden were able to hit shots when we needed it. An all-around unbelievable team effort." The Bullets picked up a huge non-conference, come-from-behind win over Meridian, 59-50. Blake Shoufler ended the night with his varsity career-best 27 points, and Brecken Thomas also had a career night with 14. Reid Bodine had an important 9 points of his own, Saling had 6, and Kohler had 3. Colin Burge said during the Live Wire broadcast "I have never seen a guy go down, come back, and have a career night, I guess Blake Shoufler is that guy."
Photos Courtesy of Easton Blankenship. Statistics via Williamsville Wire.
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