Adding even more momentum to what has been a storybook season for Oxford’s boys basketball team, the Wildcats won their first district championship since the 1990s with a triumph over their cross-town rivals in Lake Orion on Friday night with a 39-32 score.

The districts win marks the Wildcat’s first as a Class A school. The last time Oxford won a district championship in 1993, it was a smaller, Class B school.

While they pulled out a win over the Dragons, the Wildcats held their rivals to a season-low 32 points. Oxford’s defense came to play hard, and guards senior Nolan Hiler and sophomore Zach Townsend held the Dragons’ second-leading scorer to just three points throughout the game’s entirety.

Forward and captain Connor Nicholson was also a key defensive player. The senior drew two charges and, according to Head Coach Steve Laidlaw, continued “harassing Lake Orion’s post player throughout the game.”

It was a team win, with many of the boys playing important roles. Laidlaw highlighted the game’s final minute when the score was tied 32-32.

Junior forward Trey Townsend sunk a turnaround jump shot, after receiving a flawless pass from senior guard and captain Logan Coughlin to get ahead and trigger an important scoring streak for the Wildcats.

Coming off Trey Townsend’s shot, Hiler grabbed a rebound, giving senior forward and captain Michael Raisch the opportunity to sink two “critical” free-throws to increase the Wildcats’ lead to four.

Though Lake Orion tried to come back, Coughlin made a big steal and was fouled in the process.

After his free-throw shot, Trey Townsend was also fouled, able to increase the Wildcat’s lead to seven before the game’s end.

The boys’ diverse skill set filled out the stat sheet as well. Trey Townsend led the Wildcats with 14 points and three steals. He was closely followed by Raisch’s 11 points and three steals, and Nicholson put eight on the board. Coughlin again led the boy’s floor game with five assists, big passes and critical steals. On the defensive end, Hiler put in two important rebounds in the second half.

A few nights earlier on Feb. 27, Oxford took the semi-final win over Waterford Kettering in a 57-44 game. The boys allowed a close game in the first half, but would put up 19 points in the third quarter to get up by 10 points and maintain a comfortable lead throughout the rest of the night.

Trey Townsend had a big night offensively with 20 points. Two other key players were Raisch with 15 points and Zach Townsend with nine.

This record-setting squad now holds a 22-1 record and moved on to regionals for the first time in 26 years. Oxford conquered Milford on Tuesday night in Howell after the Leader went to press and will compete in the regional finals against Howell at Howell on Thursday, March 7. Tip off is 6 p.m.

For more photos from the game, check out a copy of this week’s Leader.