Waterford's Avery Smithberger manages to avoid a tie up by Belpre's Gracie Bills (22) and Larissa McDaniel (2) during the Wildcats' 44-34 road victory Thursday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

BELPRE — For the second time this season, the second quarter ended up being Belpre’s Achilles’ heel against Waterford.

Here Thursday evening at Joe Garrett Court, Belpre held a 13-10 advantage after one only to get blanked by Waterford in the second to trail 23-13 at halftime en route to suffering a 44-34 setback.

First-year head coach Austin Cunningham’s squad, which slipped to 13-7 and has senior night on Saturday when Meigs invades, only trailed 11-10 after a quarter back on Dec. 19 at the Harry Cooper Annex, but the Wildcats led 22-12 at intermission and secured a 42-35 triumph.

“I mean the second quarter got us again tonight,” admitted coach Cunningham, who watched his team take the three-point lead after one thanks to a Madison Lauer free throw and a putback by Gracie Bills, who double-doubled with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

“We had a really good first quarter. They came out and switched up their defense a little bit. It kind of threw us off. They kind of sped us up a little bit. Even in the zone, even though we were getting good looks, I feel like we were a little rushed at times, but we battled back there at the end and had some urgency.”

Waterford's Kendall Sury, pictured here being guarded by Belpre's Shy Miller during the Wildcats' 44-34 road victory Thursday night, scored 15 of her game-high 18 points in the second half and pulled down a dozen rebounds for a double-double. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Waterford, which was playing without the services of starting guard Elsie Malec, got a third chance putback by Avery Smithberger to open the scoring in the second.

A pair of free throws from Ava Hurley 1:19 in put the visitors ahead for good. Hurley added two more buckets before a Kendall Sury steal led to a putback by Avery Wagner, who had eight points along with game-highs of 14 rebounds and three blocks.

Down 20-13 halfway through the stanza, the ‘Cats missed their final five field goals, but Smithberger canned 3 of 4 from the charity stripe to put Belpre down by double figures after the Golden Eagles had four turnovers and missed all 12 of their field goal attempts.

Sury, who went for a game-high 18 points and double-doubled thanks to grabbing a dozen caroms, missed a couple bunnies early in the third before making four straight field goals, which included the final make in her personal spurt via a Gracie Hartline assist as Belpre fell behind 31-16.

“Previously we’ve been dealing with some injuries and sickness on the team,” admitted Sury, who also had a game-high four steals on a night when the ‘Cats missed 13 of 14 from distance and shot just 37.8% (17 of 45).

Waterford's Avery Wagner, pictured here blocking the shot of Belpre's Julia Way, finished with eight points as well as game-highs of 14 rebounds and three blocks during the Wildcats' 44-34 road victory Thursday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“Coming into this game we knew we were not healthy. We knew we needed to give it our all to hold the TVC. I really think we kind of got out to a slow start, but in that second half we limited those rebounds and we got the right looks we wanted.”

Bills followed the Sury barrage with consecutive deuces thanks to feeds from Haley Alloway and Julia Way, but WHS led 35-21 entering the fourth.

Wagner’s final hoop gave the visitors their biggest lead at 42-23 as the Golden Eagles continued to press and forced six turnovers in the quarter to end the affair on an 11-2 run.

“Our focus is just to come into practice focused, ready for the next game,” Sury added. “Really, evaluating our film and knowing what the other team is going to do.

“We have the next two big games coming up so we’re really going to lock in in practice and make sure we are prepared for these.”

Waterford's Ava Hurley dives after a loose ball during the Wildcats' 44-34 road win Thursday night at Belpre. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

WHS veteran boss Jerry Close watched his now 19-1 squad match Belpre’s 12 turnovers, but the Wildcats limited the hosts to 31% (13 of 42) shooting.

“We did a pretty good job tonight,” said coach Close. “We did a much better job of controlling things tonight with the health of our kids and the sickness going around. I was really happy with the way we controlled the game after the first quarter. I thought we were in a little bit of a hurry in the first quarter.

“Outside of that I thought we settled in and did a pretty nice job. I’m hoping we have enough kids at practice tomorrow that we can go ahead and practice. This is tournament time and this is kind of how the schedule sets up. You sit one and play one. You got to be prepared this time of year to get ready for that next game quick.”

Waterford, which got nine points from Hurley, five by Smith and a quartet from Brynnlee Pottmeyer, welcomes in Class AA, No. 3 Williamstown on Saturday night before heading Tuesday evening to Marietta for its season finale.

Alloway finished with nine points and six rebounds while Way had five points, a game-high four assists and a trio of steals. Larissa McDaniel and Alloway had two steals apiece in the setback.

Belpre's Haley Alloway deflects an entry pass intended for Waterford's Avery Wagner during the Golden Eagles' 44-34 setback Thursday night. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

“We got Meigs here Saturday,” added coach Cunningham. “Celebrate Larissa and Haley and then after that game it’s a whole new season and we’ll try to make something shake in the tournament. A whole new season and get after it.”

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com