YATES CENTER — A balanced scoring attack paved Yates Center High’s route to victory Tuesday.
Yates Center picked up its second straight win, pulling away late to defeat Marmaton Valley, 59-51.
The game marked a bit of redemption for Yates Center, which fell to Marmaton Valley by 20 points two weeks ago.
“Friday night was a testament to our boys putting their heads down the last two weeks and putting in the work to get better,” Yates Center head coach Lane Huffman said. “Our guys took (the earlier loss) personally, and have started playing the best we have all year.”
Five Yates Center players had at least eight points, led by sophomore Jarrett Birk with 15 points and senior Emmit George with 14.
“Jarrett was hampered by a broken leg early in the season, but he came to life for us scoring under the basket, and knocking down some free throws.”
Sophomore Brayden Lawson scored 16 to lead Marmaton Valley followed by freshman Tyler Lord with 10, but MV’s hopes were thwarted by free throws. The Wildcats hit 9 of 35 attempts from the line, 3 of 14 in the fourth quarter alone.
Yates Center broke open a 14-14 deadlock in the second quarter, pushing ahead to a 30-22 halftime lead.
Marmaton Valley pared the deficit to 38-34 after three quarters.
“I felt we controlled the first half, despite having several guys in foul trouble,” Huffman said. “We had a couple starters on the bench, and our bench came in and played well.”
Cash Cummings added 12 points for Yates Center, despite battling foul trouble. He drained a critical 3-pointer down the stretch to seal the win. Devereau Sarchet and Garrett Audiss added eight points apiece.
Jaedon Granere chipped in with nine points for Marmaton Valley, all in the second half.
Marmaton Valley prevailed, 35-23, in a two-quarter junior varsity contest.
Granere scored 14 and Lord nine for Marmaton Valley’s JV. Todd Stevenson added six.
Yates Center returns to action Tuesday at St. Paul. Marmaton Valley travels to Northeast Tuesday.
MV (14-8-12-17—51)
FG/3pt FT F TP
Drake 0 2 2 2
Granere 2/1 2 1 9
D. Smith 1/1 0 0 5
Stevenson 1 0 2 2
Morison 0 0 2 0
Lord 2/1 3 4 10
C. Smith 2/1 0 5 7
Lawson 7 2 2 16
Totals 15/4 9 18 51
YC (14-16-8-21—59)
Shepard 0 0 1 0
Weber 0 0 4 0
Sarchet 1/1 3 3 8
Cuppy 0 0 1 0
Cummings 3/2 0 4 12
Birk 6 2 2 14
George 7 0 4 14
Brittain 1 1 3 3
Audiss 4 0 2 8
Totals 22/3 6 24 59
