Even though it was her birthday Thursday night, Wendover’s Allison Supanich was the one handing out the presents. Scoring a game-high 12 points, she led her team to a 35-24 victory over visiting rival Dugway with her hard work in the low-post.

Amy Bateman also joined in on the scoring as she added 10 points of her own in the win. Lindsey Kimler led the Mustangs with seven points.

The game appeared from the beginning to be an equal contest. After Dugway’s Breanna Nichols nailed a jumper from the baseline to tie the game at 2-2 with 5:50 left in the first, Wendover went on a scoring barrage.

In fact, the Wildcats not only scorched the nets to score the quarter’s final 10 points but they were also able to hold Dugway scoreless. Supanich dominated the key in the final 2:49 of the period, scoring six points during that stretch. Wendover’s main weapon was the offensive rebound and put-backs that helped the Wildcats reach a 12-2 lead after the first.

“We have been concentrating on our offensive rebounding this year,” said Wendover head coach Kate Henderson. “We were very passive on rebounding last year.”

Dugway came out more composed in the second quarter with four points each from Kimler and Nichols but couldn’t get the score any closer than nine points. Bateman helped the lead stay put with her crashing the boards and earning the easy layups. After a strong post move from Supanich, Wendover headed into the locker room leading 22-11.

Just like in the first quarter, Dugway came out flat and only managed one field goal in the entire third quarter. With the Wendover leading 24-14, Anaisa Serna sparked a 6-0 run with a post move with 2:05 remaining in the third. The Wildcats held a comfortable 29-14 lead entering the final quarter.

“We need to come out a lot stronger in the first and third quarters,” said Dugway head coach Brett Andrus. “We need to remain focused on rebounding also. We were so focused on where Jennie (Bateman) was that we lost track of their other players on boxing out.”

The visiting Mustangs didn’t go down without a fight in the fourth, trailing 31-14 with 7:12 left, Dugway found some offensive rhythm. Shelsea Wall finally found some room to work in the key and scored four points in a 10-0 run that brought the Mustangs within seven, 31-24, with 2:37 remaining.

Dugway appeared to have a chance at a miraculous comeback but then came the sharp-shooting of Wendover’s Amy Bateman. On back-to-back possessions for the Wildcats, Bateman calmly knocked down a pair of 15-foot jumpers to close the door on any possible comeback.

“Dugway shut down our leading scorer (Jennie Bateman)” Henderson said. “So it was good to see others step up in her place and get the victory.”

The win improves Wendover’s record to 3-1 in Region 18 while Dugway falls to 1-2. The Wildcats next game is Thursday at Wasatch Academy at 6 p.m. While Dugway will be at Meridian, also on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Jake Gordon: jgordon@tooeletranscript.com