Wallace boys roll to win in RPAC opener

The Wildcats’ boys’ basketball team advanced in the RPAC tournament with a 72-41 win over Wauneta-Palisade Saturday in Hayes Center.
Wallace went to the charity stripe often in the first half. The Wildcats made 11-14 free throws over the game’s first 16 minutes. Wallace also shot well from behind the arc, rattling in five three pointers before halftime.
The Wildcats’ defense held WP to five first quarter points and Wallace led 15-5 over that span. The Broncos had more success in the second quarter, scoring 15 points, but Wallace still held a 34-20 lead at halftime.
Wallace nearly doubled its score in the third quarter, hitting five more three pointers en route to 10 3s in the game.
Kolton Hager scored 14 points in the third quarter and seven Wildcats put points on the board over that span.
Leading 66-31, Wallace took its foot off the gas in the fourth quarter and cruised to a 72-41 win.
Hager led the Wildcats with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Camden McConnell made three three pointers and went 4-4 from the charity stripe on his way to 17 points in the game. Alec Messersmith also finished in double figures with 10 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Wallace boys 72, WP 41
    2 PT.    3 PT.    FT/
    FG    FG    FTA    F    TP
Matt Lungrin    1    2    1-2    2    9
Camden McConnell    2    3    4-4    1    17
Kolten Hager    4    4    3-3    2    23
Alec Messersmith    3    0    4-6    0    10
Carson Glunz    1    0    0-0    0    2
Riley Strawder    0    0    0-0    1    0
Trey Robertson     3    1    0-1    4    9
Kyler Flaming    1    0    0-0    4    2
TOTALS    15    10    12-16    14    72
WP TOTALS    10    5    6-13    14    41

Points by quarters:
Wallace    15    19    32    6—72
WP    5    15    11    10—41
Up next
The RPAC tournament continued Tuesday night in Wauneta.
As the second seed, Wallace played third seeded Hitchcock County. The Falcons beat Maxwell 52-39 in the first round.
Regardless of Tuesday’s result, the Wildcats will be back in action Thursday at Maxwell against either Dundy County Stratton or Maywood Hayes Center.
A Tuesday night win will also put Wallace on the court Saturday in McCook.
The consolation game for the tournament will be played at 4:15 p.m. at the Graff Events Center on the MCC campus.
The championship will be played at 7:45 p.m.
After the tournament is completed, Brady (6-10) will come to Wallace Feb. 1. Two nights later the Wildcats will go to Maxwell (4-12).