Waterford’s Avery Smithberger, right, and Williamstown’s Arissa Burt defends during Saturday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Patricia Miller)

WATERFORD — It was only fitting that Waterford Wildcat seniors Avery Wagner, Kendall Sury and Avery Smithberger would pick up a win in their final game at the Harry W. Cooper Annex.

After all, the senior trio had already chalked up 87 wins in an outstanding Waterford career that began by winning a state championship in their freshman season.

Saturday evening the Wildcats celebrated Senior Night and then went to do battle with a very good Williamstown Yellowjacket squad.

Waterford came away with a 40-33 win to improve to 20-1 on the season.

The Wildcat seniors combined for 31 of their team’s 40 points in a game that should prove as a great tune-up for the postseason for a pair of teams expected to make strong tournament runs.

Waterford’s Brynlee Pottmeyer, left, makes a move with the ball as Williamstown’s Makaela Bandy during Saturday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Patricia Miller)

“It was definitely emotional. It’s the last time playing on this floor,” said Wagner. “There were girls we played with in the stands and Coach Close had to give his little speech but when it comes to game time you have to lock in and get it done and that’s what we did.”

Early on the momentum was all on the side of the visitors as Williamstown pulled out to a 14-8 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The ‘Jackets were lighting things up from the outside as Quinn Bunch knocked down a pair of threes and Gracie Montgomery another in the first quarter.

Williamstown got off to a great start in the second quarter as well when post player Faith Pickens stepped back and drilled a triple to push the Yellowjacket lead to nine.

The Wildcats went scoreless for the first three minutes of the second quarter before a two-pointer by Smithberger.

That bucket seemed to light a bit of a fire under the ‘Cats as they got a two-pointer by freshman Brynnlee Pottmeyer and a steal and finish at the other end by junior Cira Ponchak.

Wagner capped an 8-0 Wildcat run by coming up with one of her three steals in the game and cashing in on the other end to cut the lead to just a single point.

Pickens closed out the first half with a pair of free throws to send the visitors to the intermission with a 19-16 lead.

“We really size up with them well and it was a really intense game,” said Sury. “It really felt like a tournament game and it’s good for us to learn how to handle the pressure in these close games.”

Wagner kicked off the second half with a two-pointer for Jerry Close’s Wildcats but Montgomery rang the bell from long distance to shove the Yellowjacket lead back to four points.

The Wildcats hadn’t had a lead in the game since the opening minute but a 7-0 run to close out the third quarter put them back in front.

Sury got the run started by knocking down what would turn out to be the only three-pointer of the game for the Wildcats and Smithberger followed with an inside bucket with an assist from Ava Hurley.

Wagner then found an open Pottmeyer under the basket and just like that the Wildcats had a three-point lead heading to the final eight minutes of play.

The ‘Cats were able to build as much as a five-point lead with just over five minutes to play but the visitors came storming right back.

Pickens’ strong move on the inside resulted in an old-fashioned three-point play and the next two ‘Jacket possessions resulted with two free throws each for Arissa Burt who made a total of three of them to give Williamstown a one-point advantage.

Wagner’s two-pointer briefly put Waterford back on top but the Yellowjackets answered with a two-pointer from Burt to retake a 33-32 lead with just over two minutes to play.

Unfortunately for ‘Jacket head coach Danny Bunch and his squad, that would turn out to be the final points they would score in the game.

Sury has been involved in so many big plays in her career at Waterford and she struck once again when she drove strong to the bucket and finished with the left hand to put the white and green back in front for good.

Williamstown could not buy a bucket in the closing minutes and the experienced Wildcats took care of business at the charity stripe to secure the hard fought win.

Wagner led the way for the Wildcats with 14 points and nine rebounds while Sury added 13.

Smithberger chipped in with four points and five rebounds.

“It was a real battle and really good way to end things here at the Cooper,” said Smithberger. “We had never got to play them before but always had wanted to with them winning state over in West Virginia and us winning ours.”

Wagner felt like the game would be a true test for the Wildcats as they prepare to open tournament play next week.

“It was definitely a good game to play going into the tournament because they are a good team and they have good size,” said Wagner. “They are a very talented team but we knew we had to win because this was the last time we were playing on this floor.”

The night was a special one for Sury in a career that has seen so many special nights with hope of more to come.

“We work well on the court together and we just have that hustle that we always have,” said Sury. “I’ve got a feeling going into the tournament that if we just take it game by game I think we will go far.”

With a TVC title and a 20-win season wrapped up there is just one goal left for the Wildcats and that is to make a run back to Dayton in March.

“I definitely think we are ready for the postseason,” said Smithberger. “This was a great game to get us prepared for it.”

The ‘Jackets (14-5) were led in scoring by Pickens with 13 while Burt added eight points and nine boards.

Bunch and Montgomery both added six points with both of them knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

The Wildcats will have one more test before playoff time when they visit Sutton Gymnasium to take on the undefeated Marietta Tigers Tuesday evening.