Waterford’s Finn Pennock (23) attacks the basket as Federal Hocking’s Cam Joy (12) defends during Saturday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

WATERFORD — One 3-point attempt nearly made up for a dreadful shooting night by Waterford in Saturday’s 40-36 loss to Federal Hocking.

Down 38-36 with six seconds left, Finn Pennock’s stepback 3 from the wing went halfway down, but rattled out and then ricocheted off a Wildcat and out of bounds. Federal Hocking’s Noah Blake made a pair of free throws on the other end to ice it, handing Waterford its fourth straight loss.

The Wildcats, who dropped to 2-6 on the year and visit River Valley Monday, went 12 for 44 (27.3%) from the floor in the game and made just one 3-pointer on 19 tries.

Hiener made Waterford’s only trey with 35 seconds left in the first half to get the Wildcats within two, but a putback by Cam Joy, who posted game-highs of 15 points and five assists to go along with seven rebounds, made it 22-18 at halftime.

The two teams traded blows back and forth throughout the second half. Federal Hocking (4-5) extended its lead to six on three occasions, but Waterford kept clawing back.

Waterford’s Brynnlee Pottmeyer, right, dribbles around Federal Hocking’s Brenlee Cottrill during Saturday’s game at the Harry Cooper Annex. (Photo by Jordan Holland)

Despite their best efforts, though, the Wildcats never tied it. Avery Pottmeyer’s basket at the end of the third period made it 30-28. The closest Waterford got was with 4:19 remaining in the fourth when a pair of free throws by Finn Pennock cut it to 33-32. Joy responded with a basket to drag the lead right back to three, and later he assisted Gabe Bray on a corner 3-ball to make it a six-point game with 1:50 on the clock. Weston Fairchild and Reese Lang both went 2 for 2 at the charity stripe to make it 38-36. Dillon Haynes missed a pair at the line on the other end to open the door for Waterford, but Pennock’s potential game-winner was just off the mark.

Bray scored 10 points for Federal Hocking, Blake added seven and Mosiah Cottrill registered a team-high eight rebounds.

Pennock paced Waterford with 12 points to go along with seven boards. Hiener added nine points, five rebounds and three steals while Fairchild contributed six points and a team-best eight boards.

GIRLS

Federal Hocking held a significant turnover advantage en route to a 65-36 win over Waterford Saturday at the Harry Cooper Annex.

The Lancers, who improved to 5-4, tallied 19 steals in the game as part of 27 total turnovers by the Wildcats (5-5). Conversely, Federal Hocking only committed five turnovers in the game.

As a result, FHHS put up 17 more shot attempts, going 26 for 60 (43.3%) from the floor while the Wildcats went just 13 for 43 (30.2%).

Brenlee Cottrill led all scorers, pouring in 19 points for the Lancers to go along with six steals and five rebounds. Takira Walker added 15 points and three steals while Rorie Tabler finished with 11 points, three steals and a team-high seven rebounds.

Waterford, which visits Newark Catholic Tuesday, was led by Brynnlee Pottmeyer’s 17 points and seven boards. Zoey Smithberger added seven points while Shaeli Hayes chipped in six rebounds.

Nine turnovers in the first six minutes of the game by Waterford resulted in a 15-4 deficit. It was 17-6 after one.

Pottmeyer opened the second period with a three-point play, and she later added four straight points to get the Wildcats within six, 21-15, with 5:56 to go in the first half.

However, Laura Blower answered with a 3-pointer followed by a putback basket by Walker, making it 26-15. Federal Hocking, which is off next week before playing host to Belpre on Thursday, Jan. 8, led by double figures the remainder of the contest.