Peterson’s 16 not enough as Oilers fall 56-36 at Dupo
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OIL | 9 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 36 |
| DUP | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 56 |
DUPO, Ill. — A strong individual effort from Woody Peterson could not offset a cold shooting night for East Alton-Wood River, as the Oilers dropped a 56-36 nonconference decision at Dupo on Thursday night.
Peterson powered the Oilers’ offense with 16 points, consistently looking to attack and provide a scoring spark. However, Dupo used balanced scoring and timely runs in the middle quarters to create separation, turning a competitive start into a double-digit margin that East Alton-Wood River was unable to erase.
The Oilers opened with good energy on both ends, with guards Tamarion Marshall and Jordyn Spiller helping initiate the offense and apply ball pressure defensively. Early on, East Alton-Wood River worked to get quality looks in the half court, but a combination of missed shots in the lane and Dupo’s ability to finish in transition allowed the hosts to edge in front by the end of the first quarter.
The game tilted in Dupo’s favor during the second and third quarters. The Tigers put together key scoring runs out of timeouts, capitalizing on Oiler turnovers and long rebounds to push the pace. While Peterson continued to score, including several drives into traffic, East Alton-Wood River struggled to match Dupo’s efficiency. Forward Blake Sorgea battled on the glass to limit second-chance opportunities, but Dupo’s perimeter shooting and ability to get to the rim steadily widened the gap.
East Alton-Wood River tightened defensively in the fourth quarter, contesting more shots and forcing Dupo into longer possessions. The Oilers continued to compete down the stretch, with contributions from Maliek Wings and other reserves helping keep the energy up on both ends. Still, the deficit from the middle quarters proved too much to overcome as Dupo managed the clock and closed out the 20-point win.
On the lower level, the Oilers earned a notable highlight as the junior varsity squad edged Dupo 43-40. That game ended in emphatic fashion when Mikel Stockard punctuated the victory with a two-hand dunk in the closing moments, giving East Alton-Wood River a lift across the program despite the varsity setback.
East Alton-Wood River continues nonconference play looking to build on Peterson’s scoring performance and the JV momentum, while focusing on cleaner possessions and more consistent scoring across all four quarters as the season progresses.
