WREN — It had been two weeks since the Wren Middle School Hurricane basketball teams played.

Previously, their match-up against Seneca was snowed out, and the last time the Hurricanes played on their home court was Dec. 7, 2009.

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Wren Middle hosted R.C. Edwards Panthers to the newly painted and resurfaced basketball court.

The Lady Panthers were undefeated this year so far, and Coach Prescott’s Hurricanes were hoping to hand them their first loss. The first point of the game came at 4:02, on a free throw made by the Panthers.

Both teams played defense well, and ended the first period with Edwards ahead 8-5. During the second period, seventh grader Lexie Wilson made her presence in the game for Wren by with two rebounds, two blocks and one assist.

With 28.9 seconds left in the second period, there was confusion between scoring and a foul. The outcome was a foul called against Wren. The Panthers capitalized by hitting both free throws. Eighth grader Megan Barker put up a final shot at the halftime buzzer, but Edwards was ahead going into the locker room 12-9.

In the second half, Allie Wagner and Megan Barker came out on fire.

Both girls quickly added points for Wren and Wagner was rebounding everything under the goal. The score was tied at 15-15 with 3:20 remaining. Wren pulled ahead by two after a shot by seventh grader Victoria Darr at 2:51. A turnover and foul by Wren gave Edwards two free throws, and the score was tied again 17-17.

Darr stepped up her game and blocked a Panther shot, but was also called for a foul. Wren added 10 points in the third, but was outscored by Edwards, and the third period ended with Edwards leading 24-19.

Wren’s defense was able to hold the Panthers off from scoring in the fourth period while Victoria Darr was adding points from the floor and the free throw line.

With 3:35 remaining, Wren was only down by a point, 24-23.

The bad news was that three Wren players were in foul trouble, with four fouls each. Eighth grader Allie Wagner fouled out with 2:22 remaining in the game.

With 1:42 to go, Edwards got their first point of the period, and fouls hurt Wren in the end, giving Edwards the ability to pull ahead.

Edwards won the close match 31-27.

Victoria Darr had her best game so far in the season, scoring 13 points for the Hurricanes.

Allie Wagner had 8 points and 12 rebounds, Megan Barker scored 4 and Bethany Bolden had 2 points.

After the game was over, Wren Middle Principal Robin Fulbright made a special announcement to the teams and the crowd. Fulbright recognized the black bands that the girls were wearing on their left sleeve in memory of Jerry Wagner, the father of eighth grade player and team captain, Allie Wagner, who died on Friday, Jan. 15.

Fulbright asked everyone to honor Wagner with a moment of silence.

Wren hosts Gettys on Thursday January 21st at 5:30, and will make up the snowed out Seneca game on Saturday, Jan. 23rd at 9 a.m.

Boys fall to Edwards, 35-21

In the first period, Wren and Edwards were tied at 6-6. Points by Harrison Hix, Jayland Bradley, and a half court shot by Tyler Harrison at the buzzer tied the game for Wren.

In the second period, Edwards began pulling away, and was ahead 23-10 at halftime. Austin Knight scored from both the floor and the free throw line After the third period, Wren trailed 29-16. Nicholas Cox, Jayland Bradley and Harrison Hix scored during the third. Edwards went on to win 35-21.