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Williams High School Vikings keep on winning
Boys’ varsity take hot wins in three exciting December games

The Williams boys will play at home tomorrow against Northland Prep.

The Williams boys will play at home tomorrow against Northland Prep.

The Williams High School Vikings are not a team to be underestimated by any stretch of the imagination. The boys varsity team proved that fact recently when, despite adapting to play in the 1A North division rather than their more comfortable 2A surroundings, the boys still managed to come away with a number of wins in recent games. Their hot streak began Dec. 4 when the Vikes took on the Joseph City Wildcats.

It was an easy victory for the Vikes, who managed to take a hefty lead in the match, ending with a final score of Williams 69, Joe City 35. Vikings Coach Denis Kirkley credited Senior Enzo Clapper with leading the team to their win. Clapper came away from the game with a double-double of 22 points and 14 rebounds. Viking Guy Forbis made a good show of himself as well with 14 points, five assists and four rebounds. Michael Pettit got in a good game as well, with eight points and six rebounds in the game.

Williams went on the road following their proud win against the Wildcats. The boys went to St. Michaels Dec. 7 to take on the tough Cardinals team. It looked like it would be a scary one for the boys early in the match, as the Cardinals managed to snatch an early lead, but Williams couldn't be kept down for long. By halftime the Vikes pulled to the lead with a score of Williams 33, St. Michaels 25. By the fourth quarter of play the Vikes hit their stride, outscoring the Wildcats 25-13 to end the game with a final score of Williams 74, St. Michaels 54.

Forbis led the Vikes in their game against the Wildcats with 17 points, six assists and four steals in the game. Clapper came away with a solid 16 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Viking Adam Valdez played a good game with 14 points and four steals.

"This was an important weekend for us. When you are on the road it is tough to win games," Kirkley said. "You are out of your routine."

The Cougar challenge

Finding their routine, however, didn't seem too hard for the Vikes when they took on the Rock Point Cougars Dec. 7. The boys' varsity got off a solid beginning game against the home team, taking the edge with a score of 12-7, Vikings, at the end of the first half of play. By halftime the final score showed Williams retaining the lead with a score of 26-24. The Cougars took the upper hand in the third quarter, however, and built up a lead by the fourth quarter of play. Were it not for the sure hand of Clapper, the Vikes would have gone home with a defeat. Clapper, however, managed to save the Vikings by sinking a two-pointer and then a quick three-point shot as well with 1:30 left on the clock. The game ended with a final score of Williams 48, Rock Point 47.

Valdez led the Vikes in scoring for the Dec. 8 game with 10 points overall. Clapper came away with nine points, five steals and seven rebounds for the game, with Vikings Adam Schulte and Marcus Frederickson each contributing seven points in the game. Forbis scored a total of six points for the Vikes.

"I was especially pleased that we got some great help from our bench in these two games. Robbie Puga was a perfect 3-3 from three-point range in the St. Michaels game and at Rock Point Adam kept us in the game early and Marcus' baskets at the end sealed the deal for us," Kirkley said. "Basketball is a team game and we had a team effort in both games."

The road trip didn't stop for the Vikings, who traveled to Mogollon Dec. 11. They'll return home for a game against Northland Prep tomorrow and will hit the road yet again Friday, as they travel down the hill to take on Seligman squad.


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