ARMA ? Separated by 25 miles of asphalt, Yates Center and Humboldt high schools have sported a rivalry as old as the hills.
Their paths haven?t crossed as often as they once used to, now that Yates Center has moved from the Tri-Valley to the Three Rivers League but on Thursday, the schools showed once again why Wildcats v. Cubs is always a treat.
The latest iteration, coming in the Class 2A Sub-state Semifinals, featured a little bit of everything ? dazzling offense, clamp-down defense and two teams that expended every ounce of energy on the court.
When the dust settled Yates Center?s Aaron King (of course) reigned supreme.
The Wildcat senior standout scored 10 of Yates Center?s 12 points in overtime en route to a 38-point night. His 17-of-17 shooting from the free throw line was equally as critical in Yates Center?s 63-58 victory.
The win puts Yates Center (17-2) one win away from the Class 2A State Tournament, which begins Wednesday in Hays. Humboldt?s season ends at 11-9.
An all too familiar foe stands between the Wildcats and Hays. Pittsburg-St. Mary?s Colgan, a 44-27 victor over Northeast-Arma, will take on Yates Center this afternoon at 4:30 in the Northeast-Arma gymnasium, site of the 2A sub-state.
?Colgan is Colgan,? Yates Center head coach Jason Graf said. ?They?re a great program. They?ve got a great team. We know what they do.?
But first, Graft said, his squad was going to take a day to reflect on Thursday?s classic.
There was plenty to appreciate.
HUMBOLDT GOT the quick early start, courtesy of senior Bo Bigelow?s hot shooting touch. His 3-pointer midway through the first quarter gave the Cubs a 22-12 lead.
Yates Center?s one-two punch of King and Kendrick Jones helped keep things close. King had 22 points in the first half, while Jones had seven of his nine points in the first quarter. King?s 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in the half capped an 11-0 Wildcat run, giving Yates Center its first lead of the game, 38-35.
The second half featured a more methodical approach, as both defenses swarmed shooters, plugged passing lanes and made life miserable for the opposing offenses.
The Cubs allowed only three Wildcat points in the third quarter, but mustered only six themselves, to leave the teams deadlocked at 41 apiece.
The fourth quarter was much the same. Humboldt led by as many as five before King drilled a 3-pointer followed by a pair of free throws to reclaim Yates Center?s lead, 48-47.
Caleb Coronado?s putback with 1:35 left pushed Humboldt back in front, Yates Center?s Nolan Jones hit 1 of 2 charities for the equalizer.
A missed Cub 3-pointer led to King?s layup with 45 seconds left. The Cubs pulled back even on Conor Haviland?s putback with 29 seconds on the clock.
