Wildcats season ends in subdistrict finals

The Wallace girls’ basketball season faced familiar foes in this year’s subdistricts when the Wildcats took on RPAC foes Paxton and Wauneta-Palisade.
Paxton
Thanks to a Dundy County Stratton forfeit to WP, Wallace was able to host Paxton for their first round game.
    Wallace Head Coach Shawn Sullivan said the home crowd was great all night and the boys’ team showed up in great support as well.
    “It was a great get the win and send the seniors out with a win the last time on the home court,” Sullivan said of the 51-36 victory.
    Behind seven points by Karlie Finley and five from Mariah Gardner, Wallace jumped out to a 16-7 first quarter lead.
    Finley scored five of the Wildcats’ eight second quarter points, with Dajana Garrison chipping in a three pointer.
    Leading 24-14 at halftime, Wallace maintained its lead in the second half.
    Six Wildcats scored in the second half and combined to make 7-9 fourth quarter free throws to finish off the 51-36 win.
    Finley finished with 17 points and Gardner was on her heels with 16 points.
Wallace girls 51, Paxton 36
    2 PT.    3 PT.    FT/
    FG    FG    FTA    F    TP
Kendyl Flaming    0    0    2-2    1    2
Denay Pelster    1    0    1-2    2    3
Karlie Finley    7    0    3-4    5    17
Reagan Pelster    1    0    0-0    4    2
Dajana Garrison    1    2    0-0    0    8
Mariah Gardner    4    2    2-2    2    16
Ainsley Strawder    1    0    1-2    0    3
WALLACE TOTALS    14    4    9-12    14    51
PAXTON TOTALS    11    3    5-8    18    36

Points by quarters:
Wallace    16    8    11    16—51
Paxton    7    7    10    13—36
Wauneta-Palisade
As has often been the case, Wallace’s season started and ended with games against WP.
In a closely contested first quarter, Gardner, Garrison, Reagan Pelster and Kendyl Flaming each made a basket. Wallace trailed 10-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The second stayed close, as well. Garrision and Gardner made baskets while Flaming hit 3-5 free throws. Wallace was behind by two, 22-24 at halftime.
The third quarter made the difference in the game. Garrison and Gardner made the Wildcats’ only two field goals and Gardner added two free throws.
“We exchanged baskets all game long but did let them get a decent lead when we went cold for a stretch,” Sullivan said.
Trailing 28-34, Wallace could only cut the deficit by one point with a 17-point fourth quarter and lost 45-50.
    Flaming, Denay Pelster, Finley, Garrison and Gardner all made field goals, but WP hit six-straight free throws down the stretch to take the win.
“Turnovers didn’t help our situation but also shooting poor from the free throw line was the difference in the game,” Sullivan said, adding the crowd for both sides was really load and made the atmosphere fun once again. As a competitor you live for those types of games.
Wallace girls 45, WP 50
    2 PT.    3 PT.    FT/
    FG    FG    FTA    F    TP
Kendyl Flaming    -    0    5-9    4    9
Denay Pelster    1    0    0-0    2    2
Karlie Finley    2    0    0-0    5    4
Reagan Pelster    0    1    1-5    5    4
Dajana Garrison    4    1    0-0    2    11
Mariah Gardner    5    1    2-2    4    15
Ainsley Strawder    0    0    0-1    0    0
WALLACE TOTALS    14    3    8-17    23    45
WP TOTALS    14    2    16-30    18    50

Points by quarters:
Wallace    10    12    6    17—45
WP    11    13    10    16—50