Frontier point guard Jacob Bowersock (10) dribbles by Waterford’s Gavin Heiner during Tuesday’s high school boys basketball game at Harry W. Cooper Annex. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WATERFORD — Frontier’s leading scorer, junior Avery Powell, admits he has had his share of struggles in the past.

The first half against Waterford, Tuesday at Harry W. Cooper Annex was no different. Yet, Powell found his game after intermission and came up with the defensive play of the night as the Wildcats set up for a possible game-tying shot in the final 11.7 seconds.

Trailing by two points, the Wildcats called timeout then ran a sideline play which ended up in the possession of Cole Sparling-Ponchak, who misfired on a 12-footer from the wing. Teammate Gavin Heiner pulled down the offensive rebound for the possible putback, but Powell was right there in the neighborhood to block the shot just as time expired

“”I think we played some pretty tight defense – we just didn’t want to let them have a three,” Powell said. “They didn’t get a three and luckily we got that shot blocked. It was aggressive underneath – Waterford is an aggressive team and very strong underneath.”

Despite missing all four of their free-throw attempts in the final 30 seconds, Frontier pulled out a 49-47 win.

Waterford’s Reese Lang (14) dribbles along the perimeter while guarded by Frontier’s Caleb Kirkpatrick during Tuesday’s game at Harry W. Cooper Annex. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Powell, who shot just 1-of-11 from the floor and limited to two points by the halftime break, led all scorers with 20 points. He scored 12 points in the third quarter alone, including a pair of 3-pointers.

“In the second half, I just tried to remember my techniques and get out of my head,” Powell said. “I was a little jittery there in in the first half. I think my nerves got the best of me. But I calmed down the second half and started knocking down shots.”

Three players accounted for all of the Cougars’ scoring. Jacob Bowersock, averaging 9.3 points on the season, carried the scoring load in the first half with 11 of his 17 points, while True King lived in the paint for a total of 12 points.

After losing five games by a total of 11 points last season, Frontier coach Roger Kirkpatrick is emphasizing the defensive end of the floor. Against Waterford, the approach paid dividends.

“I’ve gone with defensive approach for the last three years,” Kirkpatrick said after his Cougars improved to 6-2. “We were so close last year. The guys know I preach defense all the time and that’s what won the game tonight.”

Waterford’s Finn Pennock gets pinned in by a Frontier defender trying to drive baseline during Tuesday’s game at Harry W. Cooper Annex. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Waterford showed no ill effects of a 17-day layoff between games after pulling out to a 16-12 lead after one quarter. All six of the Wildcat bench points, including five from Avery Pottmeyer, occurred in the first eight minutes. Finn Pennock contributed five of his team-high 12 points in the opening period.

Waterford’s shooters then hit a rut in the final four minutes of the first half. During a 7 ½-minute window extending into the third quarter, the Wildcats managed just one field goal – which allowed Frontier to pull in front 27-23.

Trailing 32-31, Reese Lang provided a spark for Waterford and accounted for all six points as the Wildcats pulled in front for the last time at 35-34 in the final minute of the third period.

Powell’s turnaround performance after intermission made quite the impact with a bucket off an inbound play to end the third quarter followed by a lay-in and a stop-and-pop to open the fourth quarter and give Frontier to lead for good at 40-35.

Waterford did force a tie on two separate occasions in the fourth quarter. On the give-and-go from Heiner to Lang, Frontier caught Waterford at 45 with just less than two minutes remaining in regulation. At 47-47, Bowersock’s basketball I.Q. came into play on an inbounds underneath his own basket.

Frontier’s Avery Powell, left, takes a quick break and chat with assistant coach Scott Murphy during the first half of Tuesday’s game with Waterford at Harry W. Cooper Annex. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

After taking possession from the official behind the baseline with 20.7 seconds showing, Bowersock bounced the ball off a Waterford defender who had his back turned and Bowersock caught his own pass for the easy lay-in.

The bucket was pivotal seeing that Frontier made just 9-of-20 free throws for the game.

“Terrible. Free throws absolutely terrible,” Kirkpatrick said. “All 10 of my kids are good kids. We preach team effort. Tonight the defense paid off because offense sure as heck wasn’t there.

Waterford saw balanced scoring in its ledger. Contributed 11 points, while Sparling-Ponchak added 10 points. Heiner tossed in another eight points for a Wildcat outfit which started four sophomores.

“Everything went according to plan – we would have knocked the shot down, but we didn’t,” Waterford coach DJ Cunningham said after his team slipped to 3-6. “Gavin Heiner did his job really well, was in position and boxed out, and got a second look for us. Whether that was a foul or not, I don’t wear the stripes.

“We weren’t looking to be in that situation. We shouldn’t have been in that situation. We had a really good first quarter knocking down shots. Then we went flat. They played hard. Never gave up. That’s 90% of the battle. As long as they come in tomorrow holding their heads up, we will get back after it in practice.”

Their young legs will get tested with regularly scheduled and make-up games mixed in. During a 40-day period, Waterford is set play 14 games.

“We have a busy schedule ahead of us – that’s all right too because it keeps us busy and lin line,” Cunningham said. “We have to move on. This is one that shouldn’t got away from us, but what is done is done.

Contact Kerry Patrick at kpatrick@newsandsentinel.com