The Wayne County High School Ladycats took a big win Tuesday night at Perry County, giving them home court advantage for the upcoming first round tourney game. They then fell hard to the Loretto Mustangs on Friday. The Wildcats dropped both games against Perry County and Loretto. The teams will conclude regular season play this week and begin tourney play next week.
The Ladycats opened their contest with the Lady Vikings on Tuesday night with a three-pointer by Cambree Camfield. They went on to take a 9 – 7 lead by the end of the first quarter. In the second, they outscored the Lady Vikings 12 – 10, to lead 21 – 17 by halftime. Perry County fought back in the third, tying the game at 35 all, until Kelley Baugus hit a shot with a couple of seconds left to put the Ladycats on top, 37 – 35. The fourth saw the Ladycats hit 13 of 14 free throws in the quarter and outscored Perry County 21 – 6 in the final segment to take the 58 – 41 win.
Kelley Baugus and Michaela Gallian led the Ladycats with 17 and 15 points respectively. Baugus had 6 rebounds, a block, 2 steals, and 4 assists. Gallian had 7 rebounds, a block, a steal, and an assist. Savanna McClain added 9 points and had 9 rebounds, a steal, and 2 assists. Lauren Bryant and Cambree Camfield each scored 5 points. Bryant had 5 rebounds and 2 assists, while Camfield had a rebound and 2 assists. Lexie Lee scored 4 points and had a rebound, and Henley Floyd had a 3 pointer and an assist. Charli Woodside had a rebound, a steal, and an assist. The Ladycats won the rebounding battle, 30 – 24, and they hit 20 of 26 free throws, with most of them coming down the stretch.
The Wildcats came out against the Vikings and put on the pressure. They took the ball inside with Tyler Moser scoring 8 of their 15 first quarter points. They forced 6 first quarter turnovers by the Vikings and led 15 – 10. The second quarter saw the game make a complete turnaround as the ‘Cats managed only 3 points while Perry County came up with 8 to tie the game at 18 at the half. In the third, the ‘Cats again scored 15, holding the Vikings to 12 to go up by 3, 33 – 30. In the fourth, Perry County got an offensive rebound and put back goal to tie the game at 37 all with two minutes left. Wyatt Kelley took a charge with 1:25 left, then hit a basket to put the ‘Cats up 39 – 37 with forty seconds left, but Perry County answered to tie with 8.9 seconds left. The ‘Cats called time out to set up for the final shot. It was no good, sending the game into overtime tied at 39 all. The overtime period was a “no contest,” as the ‘Cats were outscored 15 – 2 in the final four minutes to fall by the final score of 54 -41.
Clay Baugus scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats. Tyler Moser added 12, before fouling out. Baugus had 6 rebounds and an assist, while Moser grabbed 17 rebounds. Wyatt Kelley scored 9 points and had 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Adam Goss scored 5 points, had a block, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist. Cade Crews had 2 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Ethan Camfield had a rebound. The Wildcats shot 31% from the field and 53% from the foul line. They were out rebounded 48 – 36, and committed 22 turnovers.
The Ladycats trailed 18 – 14 against the Lady Mustangs after the first quarter. Kelley Baugus scored 8 points in the first. The lead extended to 38 – 21 by halftime, but the Ladycats cut into the lead, cutting the deficit to 11, 41 – 30 by the 5:38 point of the third. Loretto went back up 49 – 33 by the end of the third. In the fourth, the Ladycats cut the margin to 12 early, but Loretto answered with a 3 in route to a 61 – 40 win.
Baugus finished with 16 points on the night. She had 3 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 assists. Michaela Gallian also scored in double figures with 10 points. She grabbed 7 rebounds, had 2 steals, and 3 assists. Savanna McClain had 5 points with 2 rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Lexie Lee scored 4 points and had 2 boards and an assist. Cambree Camfield scored 3 points and had 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist, and Henley Floyd had 2 points with 2 rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Lauren Bryant had a rebound and a steal. The Ladycats had 27 turnovers against the Lady Mustang pressure defense and shot 1 – 8 from long range for 12.5%. They won the rebounding battle 22 – 21.
The Wildcats fell behind by double digits, 18 – 8, by the end for the first quarter. The margin grew to 45 – 14 by the half, as Loretto took a 62 – 33 win. No Wildcat hit for double figures, but they were led by Adam Goss with 9 points. Goss had a rebound and an assist. Clay Baugus had 6 points with 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Freshman Austin Whitson and Sophomore Ethan Camfield each scored 5 points. Whitson led the ‘Cats in rebounding with 3 and had a steal. Camfield had a rebound, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Wyatt Kelley had 4 points with a rebound and an assist. Tyler Moser and Cade Crews each scored 2 points. Moser had 2 rebounds and a block. Dawson Willis had a rebound, and Braxton Butler had a steal. The ‘Cats had 21 turnovers and were outrebounded 25 – 11 on the night. Loretto hit 8 three pointers and shot 51% from the field.
With tourney time looming, the teams will host Hardin County on Tuesday for “Senior Night”, and then travel to Hampshire on Thursday to conclude regular season play. On Monday the 17th, the Ladycats will host Perry County 6:00 P.M. in the first round of the district tourney, and the Wildcats will travel to Perry County on the 18th at 7:00 p.m. for their game. Remainder of tourney action will be at Waynesboro on Friday and Saturday. Wayne County High will also host Region 6 – 1A action the following week. The Ladycats now stand at 12 – 9 on the year, while the ‘Cats fall to 4 – 18. Come out and support the ‘Cats and Ladycats as they compete in tourney play. “GOOD LUCK ‘CATS AND LADYCATS!”—Submitted
