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Boerne, TX-

         The Wagner Thunderbirds extended their winning streak to seven games with a 68-54 victory over the Champion Chargers on Friday night. The T-Birds, now 12-1 in district, closed out their road stretch with the win, and inched closer to securing the outright District 26-5A title.

Leading the offensive charge were Senior Marcus Johnson pacing Wagner with 20 points, while Jordan Thomas added 15 points, surpassing his season average of 12 points per game.

From the tip it was a back-and-forth exchange as both teams eventually found some offensive rhythm from the perimeter and in the paint, and settled for a low scoring 13-10 first quarter.

As the game progressed, Wagner adapted to the Chargers’ 2-3 zone defense, which was intended to force outside shots. The T-Birds countered with quick ball movement, exploiting gaps in the defense and hitting timely three-pointers.

Wagner would build its lead in the second quarter off the strength of Jordan Thomas and his ability to cut through the defense, finish in transition and sink a trey from the perimeter. Add Johnson's shooting ability and the T-birds led at the half, 41-25. Champion struggled with unforced turnovers and forced shots, which allowed Wagner to push the tempo and build the lead.

Despite the challenges, the Chargers didn’t give up, going on a run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 54-44 while applying increased pressure in their zone defense. Freshman Gavin Peck, who averages 13 points per game and is usually the Chargers’ offensive spark, was face-guarded for much of the game. With one of their key play-makers neutralized, the Chargers struggled to generate consistent offense against Wagner’s tough man-to-man defense.

Logan Scott finished with a Champion team high 18 points on the night due to his ability to get baskets in fast breaks and continually attacking the basket through traffic.

In the end, however, Wagner’s depth, pace, and talent led to a victory over Boerne Champion. The T-birds just need one win in their final three games to secure the outright District 26-5A title, and overall number one district seed.