With basketball underway, the Wayne County High School teams competed in district action. The Lady cats began their week with a win at Culleoka, 71 – 34. The Wildcats fell by a one-point margin on free throws with seven seconds left. The ‘Cats had an opportunity to win, but the shot went off leaving the score 49 – 48. Friday night saw the teams travel to Collinwood to take on their cross-county rivals. Both teams came away with victories. The Lady cats used a strong 28-point second quarter to lead, 41 – 26, at halftime. They went on to win by the final of 74 – 58. The Wildcats came away with a 63 – 60 win over the Trojans. The Lady cats are now 17 – 4 on the year, and 2 – 0 in district play. The ‘Cats are now 9 – 9 on the year and 1 -1 in the district. The teams face Santa Fe at Waynesboro on Tuesday, and then host Frank Hughes on Thursday night before traveling to Hampshire on Friday night.
Against the Lady Warriors of Culleoka, the Lady cats used their defensive pressure to lead 22 – 6 at the end of the first quarter. The pressure continued as the Ladycats pushed out to a 39 – 11 halftime lead. They turned it over to the bench and went on to win by a 71 – 34 margin. Blair Baugus led the ladies in scoring with 20 points. She had 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Michaela Gallian came off the bench to hit for 12 points with 4 rebounds. Jac Keaton had 7 points with 3 boards, a steal, and an assist. Savanna McClain and Celia Powell each scored 6 points. McClain had 4 boards, a steal, and an assist. Cambree Camfield had 5 points with 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists. Lauren Bryant scored 4 points and had 2 assists, and Kylee Brewer, Emma Bryant, and Lauren Prater each scored 3. Brewer had 2 rebounds and an assist, while Bryant had an assist, and Prater had a rebound, a steal, and 2 assists. Bailey Kilburn had a rebound and an assist, and Annie Lee had 2 assists. Kenzie Griggs scored 2 points and had 3 rebounds and a steal. Isabel Luedeke had a steal and 2 assists. The Lady cats hit 47.9% from the field and forced 30 turnovers, scoring 28 points off those turnovers.
The Wildcats trailed 16 – 11 at the end of the first period, but fought back to go up 23 – 22 by the half. In the third, the teams tied at 16 all for the quarter, leaving the ‘Cats on top 39 – 38 going into the fourth. They kept it close with the ‘Cats going up 48 – 46 with 26.9 left as Eli McClain hit two free throws. Culleoka called a timeout to set up the las possession. The Warriors got an offensive rebound and got fouled, hitting the first free throw to narrow the margin to 48 – 47. They again got an offensive rebound and drew another foul. This time they went up 49 – 48, as they made both free throws. The Wildcats got the ball with 7.5 seconds left and a chance to win, but the shot was no good, to seal the win for the Warriors.
Tyler Moser led the ‘Cats with a double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also had 2 assists. Freshman Justice Bell was 5 of 6 from long range and finished with 17 points. He had 2 rebounds, a steal, and 5 assists. Ethan Camfield scored 5 points and had 3 rebounds. Cooper Shamer had 3 points with a rebound, a steal, and 5 assists. Eli McClain had the 2 big free throws with 3 rebounds and an assist. Ryder Butler had a rebound and a steal, and Landyn Prater had a rebound. The Wildcats were beaten on the boards, 33 – 22 and shot 39% from the field.
At Collinwood on Friday night, the Lady cats came out and took a 13 – 5 lead at the end of the first quarter. The second saw the Lady cats up their lead. Sophomore Kenzie Griggs came off the bench to hit for 13 points in the quarter as the ladies upped their margin to 41 – 26 by the half. They went on to take the win by the final of 74 – 58. Griggs finished with 16 points, as did Savanna McClain and Blair Baugus. Lauren Bryant scored 9 points, while Jac Keaton and Michaela Gallian added 6 points each. Cambree Camfield scored 3 points and Annie Lee added 2.
Remaining stats were not available.
The Wildcats went up 18 to 12 at the end of the first quarter against the Trojans as Tyler Moser hit for 9 in the opening period. The lead increased to 39 – 31 by the half as Cooper Shamer hit for 9 in the second. Collinwood cut into the margin in the third as the ‘Cats went cold, scoring only 7 points, and Collinwood hit a shot at the buzzer to make the score 46 – 43. Sayler Skelton scored three consecutive baskets in the fourth to put the ‘Cats on top 54 – 50. The Wildcats turned the ball over and gave up and offensive rebound which allowed Collinwood to tie the game at 54 all. Tyler Moser hit a shot to put the ‘Cats on top 58 – 56, but Collinwood answered to tie the game at 58 all to send the game into overtime.
