By Patrick Ledington
Saturday’s second game of the 13th Region Class A Tournament featured host Oneida Baptist Institute taking on Williamsburg, and the Mountaineers fed off the energy of their home crowd from the opening tip.
OBI jumped out early, playing with high energy on both ends of the floor. Despite Williamsburg knocking down three three-pointers in the opening quarter, the Mountaineers consistently attacked the paint and finished inside. OBI held an 18-15 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second period proved to be the turning point. Senior Mike Cunningham buried two three-pointers, while Skyler Roberts and Ryder Salmons each added one from long range. The three-point barrage, combined with OBI’s continued commitment to scoring inside, helped the Mountaineers outscore Williamsburg 19-11 in the quarter and take a 37-26 lead into halftime.
OBI kept the pressure on in the third quarter by working the ball inside to junior Tommy Branstutter. Branstutter scored seven points in the period as the Mountaineers continued to pull away, building a 61-47 advantage heading into the fourth.
Williamsburg continued to battle in the final quarter behind strong performances from Reece Hatcher and Lane Jeffries, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. OBI stayed aggressive attacking the basket, drawing fouls and earning trips to the free-throw line, and closed out the game with an 84-63 victory.
The Mountaineers were led by Tommy Branstutter’s 23 points. Skyler Roberts, Jayden Balfour, and Mike Cunningham each scored 15 or more as OBI punched its ticket to the second round of the All “A” Tournament.
