After a brief stint at the top of the Flint Metro League standings, the Oxford basketball team suffered its first league loss Friday to defending co-champion Lapeer West.
The final score of 70-52 was a little deceiving because the Wildcats were in the game until the fourth quarter when West outscored them 27-14.
The teams were tied at the end of the first quarter at 18 and again at halftime at 31.
The teams appeared evenly-matched for most of the game. Oxford led by six at one point but could not pull away.
The Panthers opened up a 43-38 advantage after three quarters and then blew the game open in the final eight minutes with 27 points.
Brandon Dugan led the Wildcats with 16 points while his brother Brad added 12 points. Tim Ketelhut netted seven.
The loss dropped Oxford into a tie with West for second place in the Flint Metro League behind first place Brandon.
Also, last week, the Wildcats clipped Clio, 63-48.
Ketelhut scored a game-high 24 points, including four three-pointers, against the Mustangs while Brad Dugan had 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Billy Keenist added nine points in the win.
The Wildcats travel to Fenton this week and host Linden Friday at 7:15 p.m.