The Wilcox-Hildreth Falcons's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Friday after their fifth straight loss. They were outmatched by Loomis on the road and fell 63-35. Wilcox-Hildreth has struggled against Loomis recently, as their game on Friday was their eighth consecutive lost matchup.
When it comes to explaining why Wilcox-Hildreth lost, one person who can't be blamed is Sam Gruwell. Despite the final result, he dropped a double-double on 17 points and ten rebounds. Gruwell has been hot recently, having posted eight or more rebounds the last three times he's played.
Loomis got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Tyson Essex out in front who scored 23 points along with six assists and four steals. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Essex has scored all season. The team also got some help courtesy of Ben Trompke, who scored 18 points along with five steals.
Wilcox-Hildreth has not been sharp recently, as they've lost eight of their last nine games, which put a noticeable dent in their 2-11 record this season. As for Loomis, the win makes it two in a row for them and bumps their season record up to 8-6.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Wilcox-Hildreth will square off against Ansley/Litchfield at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Ansley/Litchfield will be looking to keep their six-game home win streak alive. As for Loomis, they will head out on the road to square off against Dundy County-Stratton at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Nebraska (Dundy County-Stratton is ranked 101st, while Loomis is ranked 122nd).
