Tinora’s Josh Lieb tied the game 38-38 with a deep three-pointer with 60 seconds to go, but Napoleon’s Hayden Gerken’s layup with just over 40 seconds remaining gave the Wildcats a 40-38 lead they never relinquished on their way to a 44-40 win.

Briggs Abbott bucketed a career-high 19 points while Jack Mowrey went 4-4 from the line down the stretch, sealing the win for the Wildcats, the first of the season for Napoleon.

The Wildcats jumped out to an early 9-7 lead after the initial quarter of play.

Tinora rallied to knot the game at 16-16 as teams headed to the half.

At the half, the Special Olympics team, the Tigers, performed for the great crowd at Tinora High School.

Tinora grabbed a 23-16 lead midway through the third stanza, but the Wildcats closed with an 8-3 run, including a controversial shot at the buzzer by Napoleon. The shot appeared to be after the end of the quarter buzzer.

Napoleon led most of the final quarter, but Tinora tied the game at 38 before the Wildcats ended the game on a 6-2 run, including four huge free throws by senior Jack Mowery.

Napoleon 9-7-14-14 = 44
Tinora 7-9-10-14 = 40

Napoleon scoring: Abbott 19, Mowrey 12, Barton 2, Parsons 7, H Gerken 4
Tinora scoring: Schaufele 9, Neff, 3, Bumb 5, Hancock 6, Lieb 10, Horn 3, Lynanstall 4

Freshman – Napoleon, JV Tinora

Napoleon improves to 1-1. The Wildcats will travel to Anthony Wayne on 12/11.

Tinora is back at it Tuesday as the will host Wauseon.

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