Wallace boys drop close one
The Wallace boys returned to action Dec. 27 for a second meeting with Maywood/Hayes Center in the first round of the Perkins County Holiday Tournament.
The Wildcats got off to a great start shooting lights out, crashing the boards and playing great defense. By the end of the opening quarter, they held a 24-18 lead.
The second quarter was a different story as the Cats went cold and the Wolves got hot, particularly Kyler Cox.
With a 1:37 left in the half, the score was knotted up at 33. That’s when Cox went off 12 unanswered points to give his team a 40-33 halftime lead.
Compared to the first half, the 3rd quarter was a bit uneventful offensively. Wallace was once again held to nine points and the Wolves scored 11 and the stage was set for an exciting final quarter.
M/HC started things off by putting up the first four points but then the Wildcats took over.
Ethan Bowlin and Camden McConnell knocked down five 3-pointers, making it a two-point game with 1:13 left to play.
The Wolves came back to put up the next four points but Wallace didn’t quit. Bowlin drove the length of the court for a bucket. Alec Messersmith then went to the line and hit the front end of two free-throws.
The Wolves came down with the rebound but Bowlin was able to swipe it out of their hands and get a much needed quick basket.
With five seconds remaining, the Wolves inbounded the ball and Wallace immediately fouled. Both free-throws were missed but M/HC was able to knock the ball out to midcourt after the second miss where Cox grabbed it.
The Cats fouled Cox with 1.1 seconds left but he drained both free-throws for a 65-62 win over the Wildcats.
Ethan Bowlin led the way for the Cats with a season-high 22 points. He also grabbed 4 rebounds, had one assist and two steals. Camden McConnell also had a great game with 20 points, three assists and two steals.
Other Cats that contributed in the tough battle were Alec Messersmith with 11 points, Tertullian Nyamakope and Tanner Finley, each with 3 points, Kolton Hager 2 and Trey Robertson with 1. Nyamakope also grabbed 11 rebounds.
The weather caused the second game of the tournament to be canceled so the Wildcats will not be in action again until Jan. 7 when they travel to Curtis to take on Medicine Valley. On Jan. 10, they will host Arthur and travel to Mullen Jan. 11.