Grove City — Seeking their first win of the season, the West Cowboys arrived in Grove City on Monday night with determination and experience. Facing a tough opponent in a lively road environment, Head Coach Isaac Jefferson praised the challenge: “Grove City is a great atmosphere. We respect their team and appreciate the opportunity to play against a team that’s up and coming.”
Freshman standout Jacob Saxton gave the Greyhounds an early spark, setting the tone with intensity and rallying their home crowd into full force. Despite a slow start, the Cowboys found their footing, crashing the boards and making key plays in the paint to close the gap. Ez’Juan Schofield capped off the comeback with a clutch three-pointer at the quarter buzzer, knotting the score at 15-15 after the opening period.
The intensity carried over into the second quarter, with both teams playing hard and clean basketball. The Cowboys stayed within striking distance, trailing 32-27 at halftime due to a handful of missed opportunities. Idrissa Lhom led West with 10 points, while Daveeon Jackson added nine, keeping the game competitive heading into the break.
Grove City capitalized on their homecourt advantage, fueled by a raucous student section that threw everything they could at West to disrupt their focus. The Cowboys struggled to find their stroke in the third quarter, while the Greyhounds seized the moment, accelerating their offense and building a commanding 56-43 lead heading into the final period.
The Cowboys refused to go quietly, turning the fourth quarter into their time to shine. Stringing together several scoring possessions, they began chipping away at Grove City’s lead. Shifting the momentum, West took control offensively, matching the intensity they had defended against in the third quarter and reigniting their push for a comeback.
As the deficit narrowed, the teams exchanged blows in a thrilling final stretch. Ultimately, Grove City, led by Demetri Adado, held their ground to secure a 69-63 victory, leaving the Cowboys still searching for their first win. “Unfortunately, they made all the tough plays when the game was being decided,” said Coach Jefferson. “We need to address both mental and physical mistakes to break into the win column.”
The Cowboys delivered a balanced offensive effort, led by Idrissa Lhom with 18 points, while Daveeon Jackson and Ez’Juan Schofield chipped in 11 each, and Jaellan Lane added nine. With a packed schedule ahead, Coach Jefferson is already focused on the next challenge. “We must have a short memory and move on,” he said. “We have three games this week. Tonight, two tough teams played hard and with pride.”
West rebounded strongly on Tuesday, claiming their first win of the season with a 51-41 victory over the Independence Sixers in Columbus City League play. The victory also marked their triumph to open league play.
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