Wolves Edge Sidney Boys, 57-48

Antone Manning had a hot hand and Wolf Point’s defense played with great passion as the Wolves posted a 57-48 home boys’ basketball victory over Sidney on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

The Wolves moved ahead to stay by striking for seven straight points on a drive by Manning, a fast-break basket by Zander Ackerman and a three-pointer by Gaige Bushman for a 26-22 half-time advantage.

Manning, who finished with 24 points, opened the second half with a basket for a 28-22 lead.

The Wolves were able to increase their lead to 33-25 on a three-pointer by Kraven Silk with 3:11 left in the third quarter. After two free throws by Sidney’s Boston Peters, Manning accounted for the next six points to put the margin at 39-27 to end the third quarter.

After the Eagles battled back to 46-35 midway into the final period, Wolf Point’s Zander Ackerman came through with two straight free throws. Sidney stayed close on a drive by Kaston LeRoy and a baseline shot by Parker Sinks.

The Wolves pulled away to 55-43 with only 2:10 left on a basket by Manning and two free throws by Ethan Blount.

Ackerman also reached double figures for the Wolves with 14 points. Rounding out the scoring were Silk with seven, Blount with four, Corey Martell with four, Bushman with three and Jack Sprague with one.

Sidney’s top scorers were Riley Jackson with 11, Sinks with 10 and Jerome Entz with nine points.

After a pair of free throws by Entz put Sidney up 8-7, the Wolves ran off the last six points of the first quarter on two drives by Manning and a basket by Martell.

The Eagles pulled to a 19-19 deadlock midway into the second quarter on a three-pointer by Sinks and corner shot by Chase Waters. Sidney gained a 22-19 on a three-pointer by Waters, but the Wolves responded with the last seven points of the half.