Times Observer Photo by Cody Elms Sheffield’s Lucas McNeal looks for an open teammate during Tuesday’s boys basketball game against Brockway at Sheffield High School.

SHEFFIELD — The Sheffield Wolverines were able to fight through a few missteps and a physical matchup Tuesday night against visiting Brockway, ultimately coming away victorious, 51-46, and improving to 8-7 on the year.

“We’ve gone a lot of places and had the same kind of physical play,” said Sheffield head coach Jordan Copley. “When teams are playing at that physical level we got to be able to step up and play at the same level.”

Sheffield held a nine-point lead and all the momentum at the end of the first quarter, up on the Rovers, 20-11. After a quick Brockway basket to start the second, the Wolverines tapped back into that first-quarter energy, with Tony Richards powering through for two and one. Seconds later, Conner Johnson would get the steal off the inbound pass and score his only points of the game to put Sheffield up 23-13. The physical play of the Rovers forced the Wolverines into tough positions but Tyler Hepinger was able to make enough plays to help Sheffield maintain the lead at the half, 30-25. Hepinger led the Wolverines with 26 points on the night, 18 of which were in the first half. Both Hepinger and Richards had double-doubles. Hepinger hauled in 14 boards, while Richards grabbed 10 to go with his 12 points.

“Throughout the game, when we’re up ten, we got to know that we got to put our foot on the pedal and end the game right away instead of letting these teams hang around. So defensively we have to grow a little bit.”

The Rovers were able to keep the game within five the entire second half, led by Marcus Copelli who had a team high of 21 points. However a couple of big shots by Connor Finch in the third and solid free throw shooting by Lucas McNeal, Richards, and Hepinger, helped the Wolverines hold onto the lead and get the win. Sheffield went 16 of 21 at the line, with 11 coming in the second half.

“Down the stretch they did a fantastic job,” Copley said of the Wolverines second-half free throw shooting. “Those are the ones you needed. If they don’t make those, it’s a completely different game.”

SHEFFIELD (51)

Albaugh 0 0-1 0, McNeal 0 3-5 3, T. Richards 2 5-5 12, Hepinger 9 6-6 24, Finch 4 2-4 10, Copley 0 0-0 0, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Silvis 0 0-0 0, Mott-Macalush 0 0-0 0, Lauffenburger 0 0-0 0, Hardwick 0 0-0 0, A. Richards 0 0-0 0, Totals 16 16-21 51.

BROCKWAY (46)

Schmader 0 0-0 0, Marchiori 0 0-0 0, A. Schmader 1 2-2 4, Bullers 0 0-0 0, Pearce 0 0-0 0, Carlson 0 0-0 0, Bennett 0 0-2 0, Adams 1 0-0 11, Azzato 0 0-0 0, Demonte 0 0-0 0, Ford 0 0-0 0, Copelli 8 2-3 21, Grieneisen 0 0-0 0, Painter 5 0-0 10, Williamson 0 0-0 0, Herter 0 0-0 0, Totals 15 4-7 46.

3-point goals — Sheffield, T. Richards; Brockway, Adams (3), Copelli.

Sheffield 20 10 10 11 — 51

Brockway 11 14 11 10 — 46