NORTH MANCHESTER — Sophomore Gavin Betten’s driving basket with 2.5 seconds to play was the game-winner as Manchester topped visiting Wawasee 57-55 Friday, Dec. 2 in back-and-forth non-conference boys basketball.

“He’s our go-to guy,” said Squires coach Eli Henson of the 6-foot-6 Betten taking his team’s last shot. “All of our guys played well in certain parts of that game but when we need one shot it’s pretty obvious who we’re going to go to.

“I just liked his match-up. (Senior Collin Roberson) is a big boy and he was physical with Gavin all night. We were hoping to get a step behind him and get a foul. It worked out even better than that. He got all the way to the rim and he’s a good finisher.”

After the basket, the Warriors were able to get the mid-court before a timeout. A 3-point shot by sophomore Myles Everingham just before the buzzer was off the mark.

“I thought we defended better tonight than we have in our first couple of games,” said Wawasee coach Jon Everingham. “We need to do a better job of getting our guys in good position on that press.”

Manchester pulled even a 55-all on sophomore Tallon Torpy’s rebound basket with 1:03 to go.

The contest featured 11 lead changes and nine ties — almost all of those in the second half.

The Warriors committed 15 turnovers — 11 in the second half.

Manchester coughed up the ball 14 times — seven in each half.

Manchester (2-1) was led offensively by junior Tyler McLain (15 points — eight in the first half), Betten (14 — seven in the first quarter), sophomore Ethan Hendrix (12 — nine in the second half), junior Gavin Martin (9 — five in the first quarter) and Torpy (7 — five in the second quarter).

The Squires made 20-of-47 shots from the floor, including 11-of-23 in the first half.

Led by McClain (3), Hendrix (1), Betten (1), Martin (1) and Torpy (1), Manchester made seven 3-pointers — six in the first half.

The attack for Wawasee (1-2) was bolstered by junior Collin Ziebarth (19 points), sophomore Maddux Everingham (13), Myles Everingham (13) and 6-foot-5 Collin Roberson (8).

The Warriors made 21-of-53 floor shots, including 11-of-26 in the first half.

Wawasee dropped in six 3-pointers — three for Maddux Everingham, two for Ziebarth and one for Myles Everingham.

Anchored by Roberson, Ziebarth and junior Carson Smith with seven apiece, Wawasee enjoyed a 36-31 rebounding advantage, including 13-10 on the offensive glass.

Betten had a team-leading eight rebounds and Hendrix five.

Ending the third quarter on a 9-3 run, Manchester took a 42-40 lead in the fourth quarter.

Manchester led 28-26 at halftime.

The Squires were ahead 23-9 prior to a 10-0 run by Wawasee thanks to 3-pointers by Maddux Everingham and Ziebarth, a runner by Myles Ziebarth and a coast-to-coast break bucket by Ziebarth.

The Warriors cut the deficit to two twice in the final minute of the second quarter.

Manchester forged an 11-2 advantage in the game’s first four minutes and took a 20-7 lead into the second period.

The Squires are now 4-1 in the last five meetings with Wawasee.

Manchester was a 55-29 winner in the junior varsity game.

The JV Squires led 13-10, 27-16 and 47-22 at the quarter breaks.

Scoring leaders were sophomore Wyatt Prater (15 points), sophomore Kaleb Kline (12), sophomore Carter Wagoner (10) and freshman Carson Heath (8) for Manchester.

Pacing the JV Warriors was freshman Nolan Holzwart (8) and junior Weston DeLong (7).

West Noble goes to Wawasee Saturday, Dec. 3 and Manchester visits Bluffton Tuesday, Dec. 6.