Oxford edges Henderson for 1st win of season

EAST NOTTINGHAM >> The Oxford boys’ basketball team lost a lot of close games last winter, and the bug hit the Hornets again last Thursday night, as Oxford dropped a buzzer beater to Avon Grove. Saturday afternoon at Oxford High school, the Hornets had a close one go in their favor for a change.
Oxford stormed back from a third-period deficit to overtake West Chester Henderson and hung on for a tough 44-42 nonleague win. It was the Hornets’ first win of the season after three losses while West Chester Henderson drops to 0-3.
“We had a five point deficit, and last year, that would have turned into a 10 point loss,” Oxford coach Brian Urig said. “But, these kids worked really hard in the summer and they come to practice every day and give everything they have. We played well the other night against Avon Grove and in the first game of the season against Octorara we had a chance to win. I am really happy for the kids to get one here today. We wanted to go low to Tom Repetz, and he had a good game. He worked on his footwork and today it was good and he kept the ball high. He had a real good game.”
Oxford trailed the Warriors 33-28 after three periods and Henderson was getting good play from guard Shawn Fay, who dished out six assists and junior John Briglia, who led all scorers with 16 points, including three treys, and came up with two steals.
But, Oxford outscored the Warriors 16-8, in the final period and got two big treys at the beginning the fourth period from Christian McCartney, who totaled 10 points for the game.
McCartney’s two big buckets gave Oxford a 36-33 lead and the Hornets would never trail gain. Henderson shot just 2-for-12 in the final period and were done in by poor shooting and four fourth-period turnovers.
Oxford went down low to 6-foot-6 Tom Repetz, who tallied 10 points to go along with his eight rebounds. The Hornets fed Repetz down low for a basket and a 44-36 lead with 1:40 to play in the final stanza.
Oxford was led in scoring by Luke Campbell, who poured in 14 points.
“That was the plan coming in because we had a size mismatch,” Repetz said. “I liked getting the ball and going right to the basket. I think the way we played against Avon Grove the other night gave us a lot of confidence today.”
With a 44-36 lead and less than two minutes to go, it looked like Oxford would coast to victory. But, the Hornets turned the ball over four times in the last 1:40 and Henderson tried the crawl back.
After Henderson’s Tom Washington hit two free throws, the Hornet lead was down to 44-38. Oxford came down the floor and got fouled but Brennan Rozich missed a one and one and the Warriors had life. Fay then hit Washington for a bucket to make it 44-40 but time was running out.
When the Hornets turned the ball over with three seconds left, Washington scored a layup but it was too little, too late and the Hornets hung on for a 44-42 win.
“We really wanted this win and we have a lot of grit on this team,” McCartney said. “We work real hard in practice and we have a good bench and they push us. That is why we could come back against them today.”

Oxford 44, W.C. Henderson 42
W.C. HENDERSON (42): Fay 1 1-2 3, Washington 2 2-2 6, Harkins 5 0-0 11, Briglia 5 3-5 16, Kirby 3 0-2 6, Jarden 0 0-0 0, Stribny 0 0-0 0. Totals 16 6-9 42.
OXFORD (44): Sivels 0 0-0 0, Villagomez 0 0-0 0, Rozich 4 0-1 10, McCartney 4 0-1 10, Repetz 45 0-0 10, Campbell 5 3-3 14. Totals 18 3-4 44.
WC Henderson 13 4 6 9 – 42
Oxford 14 6 8 16 – 44
3-point goals: Briglia 3, Harkins, Rozich 2, McCartney 2.