Wallace’s season ends in subs

by Diane Stamm

Grant tribune-sentinel

The Wallace boys basketball team showed why it was the top seed in the D2-9 subdistrict with a first round win over Wauneta-Palisade, but Medicine Valley ended the Wildcats’ district hopes in the subdistrict finals.

Wallace entered the postseason on a 4-2 run and carried that momentum into its game with the Broncos.  In the season opener Wallace lost to WP 27-28 on a three-pointer at the buzzer.

The Wildcats spread the ball around in the first quarter and six different players scored. Wallace’s defense held WP to three field goals in the first quarter and help the Wildcats take a 12-9 lead.

Both teams found another gear in the second quarter. Matt Lungrin came to life with two three-pointers and was a perfect 2-2 from the charity stripe. Trey Robertson also found another gear, making two buckets and 3-4 free throws. But the Broncos warmed up from the field as well, making three-3s and remaining in striking distance. Wallace led 32-24 at halftime.

The Wildcats increased their lead in the third quarter. Kyler Flaming knocked down two buckets to go with a three- pointer by Lungrin, basket by Masen Messersmith and 3-4 free throw shooting, once more, from Robertson. Limiting WP to three field goals, Wallace took a 10-point lead, 44-34, into the final quarter.

Conner Kennicutt stepped up to nail a three-pointer to start off the Wildcats’ scoring in the fourth quarter. Messersmith made three field goals, while Riley Strawder made two from the floor and went 2-2 at the free throw line. Robertson made three more points on his way to a team-high 15 points for the game.

Wallace moved on to the subdistrict finals with a 62-46 win.

Also finishing in double figures were Lungrin with 11 points and Messersmith with 10 points. Strawder pulled down 11 rebounds in the game. Robertson also had five assists.

Miller credited both teams for shooting the ball well. “We played decent enough defense to hold onto the lead throughout,” Miller said, adding he liked how Wallace played poised and confident offensively, and aggressively on defense.

Heading into the finals game, Miller said the Wildcats knew Medicine Valley (6-16) would be a tough opponent, one that shot the ball well and played a style of defense not seen on a regular basis.  

That defense held Wallace to three field goals and eight points in the first quarter when the Wildcats fell behind 8-11.

“We got down early, as Medicine Valley hit some big shots,” Miller said.

The deficit grew in the second quarter. Robertson scored five of Wallace’s seven points, sending them to the locker room trailing 15-24.

The Wildcats came out firing after halftime.

Robertson and Lungrin both hit three-pointers and scored eight points in the third quarter. Behind their 16 points, Wallace claimed a 38-36 lead going into the fourth quarter.

But the Raiders turned the table on Wallace in the final eight minutes. Messersmith scored four points and Lungrin added to his three point total to account for seven of Wallace’s 10 points. Medicine Valley, however, made three-3s and 6-11 free throws, while the Wildcats only had two free throw attempts, to pull away. Wallace’s season ended with a 48-55 loss.

“Hats off to Medicine Valley for battling back and knocking down some big shots. Their pressure got to us at times, they rebounded well, and were really balanced on offense,” Miller said. 

“We had some uncharacteristic mistakes at times.  I am really proud of how hard the guys worked and the amount they grew throughout the season,” he continued.

Robertson and Lungrin scored 14 points each and Messersmith also finished in double figures with 10 points. Strawder had five assists and Lungrin five steals.

Wallace ends its season at 8-13.