The Wolverines jumped out to an 11-0 lead on Smethport and led for nearly the entire game, but Hunter Helsley’s jumper with 10 seconds left gave the visiting Hubbers a 46-44 lead and Tony Richards’ potential game-winning 3 at the buzzer was off the mark.

The loss also overshadowed a big fourth quarter from Sheffield Tyler Hepinger.

The junior, who spent much of the night saddled in foul trouble, still connected for a game-high 20 points, right on his season average.

He picked up his fourth foul with 4:43 to go in the third quarter and his team up nine.

Times Observer photo by Andy Close Sheffield’s Walker Kyler gets fouled while driving to the basket in the first quarter against Smethport on Monday.

He re-entered the game with the Wolverines trailing for the first time in the contest, 35-34 with 5:22 to go. He went proceeded to go on a personal 8-0 run, with his two free throws with 2:54 to go putting Sheffield up 42-37.

Alex Ognen came down and hit a 3 to get Smethport (9-7) back within two, but Sheffield’s Lucas McNeal connected on a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession to make it 44-40 with 2:04 to go.

Those were the last points Sheffield (4-13) scored, however, as the Hubbers ended the game on a 6-0 run.

Connor Alfieri’s layup made it 44-42 and Layne Shall’s drive to the basket with 1:07 to go tied the game.

Hepinger fouled out with 1:31 to go on an offensive foul.

The Wolverines got out in front early thanks to a 3’s from Walker Kyler and Hepinger. A Connor Johnson triple made it 18-10 midway through the second quarter and the Wolverines took a 9-point lead into halftime after a Richards 3.

Shall finished with a team-high 15 points for Smethport, while McNeal added eight and Kyler six for the Wolverines.

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SMETHPORT (46)

Shall 4-6-9-15, Alfieri 3-3-5-9, McDowell 1-1-4-3, Helsey 2-3-4-7, Burdick 0-0-0-0, Wilbur 0-0-2-0, Howes 0-0-0-0, Ognen 5-0-3-12, Totals 15-13-25-46

SHEFFIELD (44)

Kyler 1-3-4-6, Richards 1-0-0-3, Hepinger 6-7-9-20, M. McNeal 0-1-4-1, Vinopal 1-1-2-3, L. McNeal 2-4-4-8, Johnson 1-0-0-3, Benjamin 0-0-0-0, Albaugh 0-0-0-0, Totals 12-16-23-44

By Quarters

Smethport 4 11 14 17 – 46

Sheffield 13 11 10 10 – 44

Three-point FGs: Smethport (3) – Ognen 2, Shall; Sheffield (4) – Hepinger, Richards, Johnson, Kyler

– – –

SATURDAY

EISENHOWER 47, TIDIOUTE 19

Curt Darling scored 10 points to lead a balanced effort as eight different Eisenhower Knights found the scoring column in a 47-19 win over Tidioute on Saturday.

The Knights jumped all over the Bulldogs early with a 19-5 first quarter.

Jared Martone added eight points for the Knights, while Drew Williams, Jake Venman and Wyatt Lookenhouse chipped in with six each.

Derek Klos scored 11 points to pace Tidioute