Sheffield jumped out to a big early lead, then held off a late rally for a 48-43 win over visiting Brockway Wednesday.

The Wolverines led 33-15 at the half, but scored just 15 points in the second half. Alec Freemer connected on four of his five 3-pointers in the second half to get the Rovers back in it.

Sheffield raced out to a 20-8 lead in the first quarter thanks to a pair of threes each from Tony Richards and Tyler Hepinger. Senior Walker Kyler added six points on three field goals. Hepinger and Jake Vinopal combined for 11 of the Wolverines’ 13 second-quarter points. Defensively, Sheffield limited Brockway to just six field goals in the half.

The second half was a different story.

Freemer drained a pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter and Lewis Painter added two more field goals as the Rovers outscored the Wolverines, 10-6 in the frame. Freemer was back at in the fourth quarter with two more long-range buckets and a pair of free throws. Five other Brockway players scored in the frame as the Rovers tried to tie it up.

“Walker Kyler had a big game,” Sheffield coach Mike Knapp said. “He had the early buckets, then showed a lot of senior leadership calming us down when it got close.”

Hepinger finished with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Richards had 11 points and four assists and Kyler had nine points, six rebounds and four steals.

Freemer had a game-high 21 points for Brockway.

Sheffield will be back in action at the Ralph J. Santo Gymnasium Friday when the Wolverines welcome Elk County Catholic. The Crusaders suffered their first loss of the season, 53-42, against DuBois Wednesday.

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SHEFFIELD (48)

Kyler 4-1-2-9, M. McNeal 1-0-2-2, Hepinger 5-1-1-13, L. McNeal 1-2-3-4, Richards 4-0-0-11, Johnson 0-0-2-0, Benjamin 1-0-0-2, Vinopal 2-2-2-6, Copley 0-1-2-1, Total 18-7-14-48

BROCKWAY (43)

Marchiori 2-0-0-4, Wood 2-0-0-4, Bullers 3-0-0-8, Bennett 1-0-0-2, Freemer 7-2-4-21, Painter 2-0-0-4, Total 17-2-4-43

By Quarters

Sheffield 20 13 6 9 – 48

Brockway 8 7 10 18 – 43

3-point FGs: Sheffield (5)-Richards 3, Hepinger 2. Brockway (7)-Freemer 5, Bullers 2.