The West Prairie High School boys basketball team wrapped up action at the United Holiday Tournament Friday evening with varsity and JV teams post victories over the hosts.
The varsity contest saw West Prairie rally in the final eight minutes in posting a 61-56 victory against the host Red Storm.
United led 14-8 after the opening period before the Cyclones cut their deficit to 23-21 at halftime.
The game remained tight with both teams scoring 16 points in the third period, leaving United with a 39-37 lead entering the decisive final period.
West Prairie tallied 24 points in the final eight minutes on the way to notching the victory.
Braden Coplan led the way for West Prairie with 27 points that included a 9-of-9 effort from the free throw line. He also handed out four assists.
Eli DeCounter added 10 points and a team-leading eight rebounds for the Cyclones.
Matt Whitman recorded nine points, two rebounds and two assists, while Ryan Clark added eight points, five rebounds and two steals for West Prairie.
Holden Coplan rounded out the Cyclone scoring with seven points, also adding five rebounds.
West Prairie finished 17-of-19 from the free throw line.
United dropped to 2-7 on the season. In the team’s 59-29 win against Knoxville on Dec. 17, three Cyclones reached double figures in scoring.
Braden Coplan led the way with 17 points, followed by DeCounter with 14 and Clark with 11 points.
Braden Coplan also added four rebounds and five assists, while DeCounter added seven rebounds and two steals. Clark also recorded four rebounds.
Holden Coplan added six points, along with eight rebounds and five assists for West Prairie.
Brody Cordell chipped in five points, followed by Matt Whitman with three points and three rebounds. Austin Nelson scored two points and had three rebounds, while Gannon Shipman also had two points and two rebounds for the Cyclones.
In the JV contest on Friday, West Prairie improved to 6-0 on the season in recording a 58-50 victory.
Leading 15-11 after the opening seven minutes, the Cyclones outscored the Red Storm 14-5 in the second period in building 29-16 halftime lead.
West Prairie led 40-30 entering the final frame before United got to within four points. But the Cyclones made just enough free throws, and a pair of late steals by Mason Whitman led to a pair of key baskets that sealed the contest.
Mason Whitman led three Cyclone players in double figures with 18 points.
Ivan Beck added 12 and Shipman 11 for West Prairie, who finished 17-of-31 from the free throw line. That included 12-of-22 in the final period.
Holden Coplan and Ayden Lacey chipped in five points apiece, followed by Tyson Carnes with four, Cam Melvin with two and Max French with one.
The West Prairie varsity won for the sixth time in its last seven games, improving to 8-4 on the season.
The Cyclone varsity will head to Greenview for tournament action, starting Dec. 26 where they will face Madison (3-6) in an opening-round contest.
West Prairie will also play a second game that day before concluding action with a final game on Dec. 27.
