The Escalante Moquis's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Wednesday after their third straight loss. They took a 56-44 hit to the loss column at the hands of Wayne. Escalante found out winning isn't easy when you don't work as a unit and rack up nine fewer assists than your opponent.
Despite the loss, Escalante saw an underclassman step up: Jaxen Cottam dropped a double-double on 26 points and ten rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points Cottam has scored all season. Korben Young was another key contributor, scoring ten points along with nine rebounds.
Wayne found their leader in underclassman Blake Peterson, who scored 12 points along with nine rebounds and five assists. The team also got some help courtesy of Jake Batty, who scored nine points along with nine rebounds and two steals.
Escalante has not been sharp recently, as they've lost four of their last five contests, which put a noticeable dent in their 6-9 record this season. As for Wayne, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 9-8.
Both squads are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Escalante will take on Telos at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Telos is hoping to put an end to a seven-game streak of away losses. As for Wayne, they will be playing in front of their home fans against Valley at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Utah (Valley is ranked 91st, while Wayne is ranked 101st).
