The game opened with a back-and-forth first quarter, ending in a 10-10 tie.

By halftime, Alpena had edged ahead, leading 22-21, despite struggling with rebounds early on.

“The Sault was quick to block our attempted rebounds, especially in the first two quarters,” said Wildcats head coach Evan Neff.

However, Alpena found its rhythm late in the second quarter to take the narrow halftime lead.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Oliver Duthler tries to get around a Sault Area player in the first quarter on Tuesday. Alpena returns to action on Friday against Traverse City Central.

Momentum shifted decisively in the third quarter, as the Wildcats outscored the Sault 15-10, extending their lead to 37-31.

Cameron’s offensive efforts played a pivotal role in maintaining control.

“Connor Cameron is a great player,” Neff said. “He just doesn’t know how great he is yet. He’s the prototype of what we want in a high school basketball player. We just have to help him pull that out.”

Oliver Duthler and Eddie Prue also contributed crucial points to Alpena’s victory, as the team displayed a faster-paced style of play with improved ball movement compared to previous games.

“We’ve been pinpointing that in practice, just consistently working on the passing game,” Neff said.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Andrew Bebout catches the ball in the second quarter of Tuesday’s game in Alpena. The boys basketball team played Sault Area, winning 55-38.

The Wildcats closed out the game with a dominant fourth quarter, holding the Sault to just seven points while adding 18 of their own.

Looking ahead, Neff emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency.

“It’s a new era with a new coach, and we’re just staying consistent overall,” he said.

The Wildcats return to action on Friday at home against Traverse City Central at 6 p.m.