MORAN — Marmaton Valley High’s girls held strong in Tuesday’s contest against Humboldt High, but a strong third quarter from the Cubs proved to be too much for the Wildcats.
Humboldt edged out the win 50-43, holding off a Wildcat comeback in the fourth quarter.
“We did some great things tonight, and get to go to Christmas break on a high note,” Humboldt coach Sherri Nelson said. “The Lady Cubs played strong again.”
The game opened fast for the Cubs, going on a 7-0 run with some fast points from Sherri Middleton and Chelsea Bailey.
MaRyiah Cavender got a quick two points on a fast-break drive for the Wildcats, and Kailey Boyd went two for two from the line after a foul. Marmaton Valley went on a 9-0 run, ending the quarter with a 9-7 lead over the Cubs.
After a free throw from Emily Meiwes extended the run for the Wildcats to 10-0, the Cubs responded in a big way. Middleton broke the drought with a basket in the paint for the Lady Cubs.
Humboldt regained the lead midway through the quarter with scores from Kayle Riebel and Whitney Strack.
Both teams were in the bonus toward the end of the second quarter. The play slowed and points from the line began to pile up. The half ended with two Cub fast-break layups from Strack and Kasey Beeman. Humboldt led 24-16 at the break.
Quick points from Humboldt to start the second half lengthened the deficit for the Wildcats, courtesy of the Lady Cubs’ full-court press.
Sophomore Breanna Kline came off the bench for three consecutive layups off of fast breaks.
The Wildcats had lost their spark — until they put on their press for a second time.
Late in the fourth the Cubs’ lead expanded to 19 points before the Wildcats jolted to life and the cards began to land in their favor. The full-court press rattled the Cubs.
Boyd hit a long two-pointer inside with just over three minutes left in the game. More steals led to scores from Kacie Shadden and a 3-pointer with 35 seconds in regulation cut the gap to six, 48-42.
The Wildcats got no closer. Humboldt hit enough free throws down the stretch to keep Marmaton Valley at bay.
“If we had gotten back on defense better than we did, we would have had a good chance of winning,” Wildcat head coach Kent Houk said. “And we struggled from the free throw line. We only hit 16 of 32 attempts. Shooting 50 percent from the line is unacceptable.”
“We had a comfortable lead and were able to give some extra playing time to our deserving bench tonight,” Nelson said. “We lost some of the lead but were able to leave with a victory.”
Kline led the way for Humbodlt with 12 points, five rebounds, seven assists and four steals. Strack also had 12 points to go with six steals. Middleton followed with eight points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Riebel had seven points and five boards. Delaney Umholtz had five points and five steals. Lakota Wilson chipped in with three points and three steals, Cheyenne English had two points and a steal, and Morgan Morris had a point with six rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Mackenzie Tynon led Marmaton Valley with 13 points. Boyd followed with 11. Shadden had nine.
Humboldt (7-17-12-14—50)
Marmaton Valley (9-7-8-19—43)
Humboldt (FG-FT-F-TP): Kline 4-4-2-12, Middleton 4-0-5-8, RIebel 1-5-4-7, Todd 0-0-1-0, English 0-2-0-2, Strack 6-0-1-12, Wilson 1-1-1-3, Umholtz 1/1-0-4-5, Morris 0-1-5-1. TOTALS: 17/1-13-23-50.
Marmaton Valley (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Ensmigner 1-1-3-3, Cavender 1-0-2-2, Boyd 3-5-2-11, Shadden 1/1-4-3-9, Meiwes 2-1-5-5, Louk 0-0-1-0, Tynon 4-5-4-13. TOTALS: 12-16-20-43.
Lady Cubs topple MV
