GLENVILLE — The Glenville-Emmons boys’ basketball team narrowly missed grabbing its first win of the season Monday night when it hosted Heron Lake-Okabena.

Despite falling early in the game, the Wolverines were able to will themselves back into the game, but ended up losing in heartbreaking fashion, 52-50.

The game opened with both teams trading baskets on their first few possessions. A few turnovers plagued the Wolverines early on and caused them to fall in an early seven-point hole.

They were boosted back into the game with big baskets from junior Bret Belshan and sophomore Dawson Dahlum and eventually would win back the lead with a converted and-one opportunity from senior Logan Studier.

Head coach Adam Dempewolf talked about Belshan and Dahlum after the game.

“(Belshan) has gotten a lot better over the summer,” he said. “ The work he has put in has been great. (Dahlum) had an older brother at point for us last year and he’s trying to be better than he was. So far his work has really been showing.”

The score would remain close for the majority of the second half. The Wildcat’s looked to be gaining some momentum with about four minutes remaining in the game. Dahlum would again dash any chance of them pulling away with a clutch three-pointer to bring the Wolverines within one.  Freshman Kyler Quimby would put the Wolverines on top one possession later with a driving layup, 48-47.

The Wildcat’s would take the lead back with under a minute left to play after a driving finger roll in the middle of the lane. The Wolverines responded by calling a timeout with 40 seconds remaining to devise their plan.

Glenville-Emmons would miss its shot to take the lead and Heron Lake-Okabena would put the game away with a made free throw and a steal as the buzzer sounded.

“I told them not to hang their heads because it happens to everybody,” Dempewolf said. “We might have been able to do some things differently in the second half, but the guys have nothing to hang their heads about.”

Studier led the team in scoring with 14, Dahlum was close behind with 13. Senior Anthony Rasmussen finished with 11 and Belshan recorded 10.

The Wolverines fall to 0-2 on the season and will be back in action tonight when they host Schaeffer Academy.