WP falls to Maywood/Hayes Center, Hitchcock County

The Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball’s appearance in the RPAC tournament ended with losses to Maywood/Hayes Center and Hitchcock County.

Snow delays tournament
    WP’s second round game against Maywood/Hayes Center was put on hold following Sunday’s snow storm.
    Playing on Wednesday, rather than Monday, WP came prepared. Starting off the game with a conventional three-point play by Faith Simpson, WP turned baskets by Reagan Skow and Destiny Beacham into a 7-2 lead.
    The Wolves climbed back into the game with a 2-6 run, but a putback by Skow kept the Broncos ahead by three points.
    Following a free throw by Monique Gooden, MHC hit a three-pointer with time running down in the quarter to keep it a one-point game.
    WP maintained its advantage through the early parts of the half, before MHC took its first lead of the game midway through the third quarter.
    Simpson scored on WP’s first possession of the second half, then didn’t make another basket for five minutes. WP’s only points came from two free throws.
    Fouls started to add up in the third quarter of the rough and tumble game. WP was shooting in the double bonus with two minutes left in the third quarter.
    A basket by Beacham with less than a minute left in the quarter cut the Wolves’ lead to 21-23. MHC responded with a three-pointer to give it a five-point advantage going into the fourth quarter.
    The charity stripe was WP’s only offense in the fourth quarter as the Broncos were held to no field goals.
    WP shot its free throws well hitting nine-of 13 from the charity stripe. Overall, WP made 18-of-31 free throw attempts.
    Simpson scored 17 points to lead the Broncos. Skow added seven points. The pair each nabbed six rebounds.
    “It’s tough to win basketball games without actually executing the little things,” WP Head Coach Matt Cox said. “Their man-to-man offense was good and we had trouble scoring the ball because of it. Our defense was pretty solid, but we gave up too many offensive rebounds.”
    WP was out rebounded 26-41 and gave up 16 offensive rebounds.

Fall to Falcons
    Following Wednesday’s game, WP had to quickly pull itself together for Thursday’s game against Hitchcock County.
    The Broncos had already beaten the Falcons twice this season, but Cox said Hitchcock County added a few wrinkles to its game plan.
    The teams took their time to warm up from the floor. The game’s first points came on two Falcon free throws with 4:29 on the clock.
    Three-pointers by Simpson and Gooden gave WP a 6-5 lead before Hitchcock County scored the final six points of the quarter.
    Simpson carried WP in the second quarter, making the only Bronco baskets of the quarter. By the time the teams headed to the locker rooms, WP trailed 13-22.
    The Broncos quickly cut into the Falcons lead in the third quarter. Four points by Beacham and a basket by Gooden narrowed the score to 20-24.
    Hitchcock County responded with nine-straight points before a Simpson three-pointer broke the run.
    The Hitchcock County lead was back to 10 points, 27-37, by the end of the third quarter.
    Baskets by Gooden and Simpson cut the lead to 34-41.
    Though no Broncos fouled out, Hitchcock County got to the free throw line often in the fourth quarter. The Falcons shot 12 free throws, making seven, while WP only shot two.
To read the full story, subscribe to the e-edition online or call the Breeze at 308-394-5389 to subscribe to the print edition