Alpena High boys cagers take control, best Gaylord, 58-50

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena High School’s Eddie Prue shoots a two-pointer during the Wildcats’ win over the Gaylord High School Blue Devils on Friday at Alpena High.
ALPENA — The Alpena High School boys varsity basketball team secured a 58-50 victory over the Gaylord High School Blue Devils after a competitive game that saw multiple lead changes.
Despite a slow start in the first quarter, Alpena found its rhythm and took control by halftime.
Gaylord capitalized on three-point shooting early on, while the Wildcats struggled to convert scoring opportunities and secure rebounds. By the end of the first quarter, the Wildcats trailed 13-20.
However, Alpena responded quickly in the second, forcing turnovers and improving the team’s offensive execution to take a narrow 32-31 lead at halftime.
The game remained tight through the third quarter, with Alpena holding onto a slim 41-40 advantage. In the final period, the Wildcats maintained defensive intensity and made key plays to secure the win.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena High School’s Connor Cameron moves the ball upcourt during the Wildcats’ win over the Gaylord High School Blue Devils on Friday at Alpena High.
Leading scorers Connor Cameron, Eddie Prue, and Oliver Duthler played pivotal roles in the offense.
Head coach Evan Neff noted that defensive pressure was a major factor in the victory.
“They hit a couple of shots that I don’t think we were that mad about because they weren’t good shots,” Neff said. “We were playing well defensively, and we made them turn it over 14 times in the first half, 22 in the game. When you do that and win the rebound battle, you’re going to win, even if they hit a couple of tough or uncharacteristic shots.”
Neff also praised the leadership of the team’s top scorers.
“More than anything, something I’ve been looking to see out of those three is leadership, and I think they gave me a step in the right direction in that category,” he said. “They’re talented players. We’ve been just trying to figure out how they’re gonna adjust to their new roles, and they did it well.”
The Wildcats made defensive adjustments to limit Gaylord’s offensive production, focusing on pressure and trapping.
“We watched film, and we knew they didn’t handle the traps and pressure well,” Neff explained. “The first time we played them, we let them be the aggressor, and we decided that we couldn’t do that tonight if we wanted to be successful.”
Looking ahead, Neff emphasized the importance of building confidence and creating a winning mindset.
“Seeing a couple of wins and not being a program that’s used to losing, I think that mindset change — once we get that instilled at all levels, we will be able to turn this program around,” the coach said.
The Alpena News newsroom can be reached at 989-354-3111 or newsroom@TheAlpenaNews.com.
- News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena High School’s Eddie Prue shoots a two-pointer during the Wildcats’ win over the Gaylord High School Blue Devils on Friday at Alpena High.
- News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena High School’s Connor Cameron moves the ball upcourt during the Wildcats’ win over the Gaylord High School Blue Devils on Friday at Alpena High.