The Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball team split games with Hyannis and Paxton last week before beating Maxwell in the first round of the RPAC tournament.

WP opened the week Tuesday, Jan. 17 with a makeup game against Hyannis. 

The Longhorns, ranked sixth in Class D2 with a 14-1 record, took home a 53-82 victory.

“We dug ourselves an early hole from the get go, then did a nice job fighting our way back,” said WP Coach Matt Cox. 

Cox credited his team with having stretches when it played well, but hopes to see the Broncos put complete quarters together as the season goes on. Cox added that Hyannis was a very good team and it’s fast style of play is what WP wants to look like going forward.

Faith Simpson led WP with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Monique Gooden scored 13 points. Reagan Skow finished with nine points and three assists.

WP rebounded Thursday, Jan. 19 with a 64-40 win over Paxton.

The Broncos trailed 13-16 at the end of the first quarter, but took an 31-21 advantage to the locker room at halftime.

“We got started a little slow tonight, but I thought our defense played well all game long,” Cox said. The Broncos held Paxton to 19 second half points.

Cox said it was nice having three girls in double figures and WP will need to continue that trend.

Simpson totaled 23 points, nine rebounds, seven steals and three assists for WP. Skow scored 18 points and added seven rebounds and three assists. Gooden also finished in double figures with 13 points.

RPAC tournament begins

Playing its third game in five days, WP held off sixth seeded Maxwell in the first round of the RPAC tournament.

The teams traded points early before WP took a 16-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Cox said Maxwell has a very good defensive game plan and WP really struggled in the second and third quarters shooting the ball. 

After a Maxwell basket with 35 seconds left in the first half, WP trailed 18-21 at halftime and fell behind 21-28 midway through the third quarter. WP closed the gap and trailed 26-28 at the end of the third.

“The girls really kicked it up a gear in the fourth,” Cox said. “Our defensive effort was tremendous and it was the difference in the game.”

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