The Wayne County High School Wildcats were eliminated from tourney play on Tuesday night at Perry County, 65-56. The Ladycats came away with a big win on Monday to advance in tourney play. They lost the semi-final round game to Loretto, the eventual champs of the tourney, and then defeated the Trojanettes of Collinwood on Saturday to take third place in the tourney.
The Ladycats came out on Monday night fighting for survival in tourney play and pressured the Lady Vikings of Perry County. The Ladycats forced turnover after turnover with their trapping half court press to take a 22-2 lead at the end of the first quarter. The trap forced numerous mistakes by Perry County that led to fast break lay-ups for the Ladycats. Kelley Baugus had 10 points in the first quarter. In the second, the pressure continued as the ladies from WCHS went up 48 – 6 at the half. They coasted to a 67 – 24 win to advance to face top seeded Loretto in semi-final action in the District 12-1A tourney on Friday.
Baugus led the Ladycats with 24 points. She had 2 rebounds, a block, 3 steals, and 6 assists. Michaela Gallian scored 13 points and had 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist. Cambree Camfield hit for 11 points and had 3 rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Lauren Bryant added 9 points and had a rebound, 4 steals, and 6 assists. Charli Woodside had 3 points with a rebound and 3 steals. Lexie Lee, Savanna McClain, and Kelsey Carroll each scored 2 points. Lee had 2 rebounds and a block, while McClain had 2 rebounds, a steal, and 2 assists. Henley Floyd hit for 1 point and had 2 rebounds and an assist. Jamie Lauren Hickman had a rebound and a block, and Allie Hill had a block and an assist. Bailey Kilburn and Annie Lee each had a rebound, and Lauren Prater had a rebound and a block. Celia Powell came up with a steal. The Ladycats shot 55.1% from the field and forced 28 Perry County turnovers.
The Wildcats traveled to Perry County on Tuesday to face the Perry County Vikings in the quarterfinal round of the District 12-1A tourney. The ‘Cats got off to a slow start, committing 6 turnovers in the first quarter and trailing by double digits, 22 – 8.
Perry County hit three long range goals in the opening quarter. The Wildcats fell behind 37 – 23 by the half. The Wildcats fought back in the third, cutting the margin to 8 at the 3:05 mark, but Perry County upped the lead to 51 – 38 by the end of the third. In the fourth, Braxton Butler came up with a steal and a basket with 1:20 left to cut the margin to 9, 65 – 56, but the ‘Cats went on to fall 69 – 56.
Butler came off the bench to hit 4 three-pointers out of 5 attempts and score 14 points. He had a rebound, 3 steals, and an assist. Clay Baugus finished with 18 points and had 2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 assists. Wyatt Kelley and Tyler Moser each scored 8 points. Kelley had 2 rebounds, a steal, and 2 assists, and Moser had 5 rebounds and a steal. Freshman Austin Whitson scored 6 points and had 2 rebounds and a steal. Adam Goss scored 2 points and had 2 rebounds, and Cade Crews had 3 assists. The Wildcats committed 19 turnovers and were out rebounded 28 – 14. With the loss, the ‘Cats ended the season at 5 – 20.
Friday afternoon, the Ladycats matched up with the Lady Mustangs of Loretto for the third time this season. The results were the same as they got off to a slow start, scoring only 8 points in each of the first two quarters to trail 28 – 16 at the half. In the third, they were limited to 4 points and the margin increased to 41 – 20. The Ladycats fell by the final score of 54 – 29, to fall into the consolation bracket of the tournament. The Ladycats were led in scoring by Savanna McClain with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Kelley Baugus scored 9 points and had a steal and 2 assists. Michaela Gallian scored 6 points and had 3 boards, a block, and a steal, and Lexie Lee scored 4 points and had 5 rebounds, a block, and an assist. Lauren Bryant had a rebound and an assist, and Cambree Camfield and Charli Woodside each had 2 boards, and Camfield had a steal. Kelsey Carroll had a rebound, and Henley Floyd came up with a steal. The Ladycats were 0 for 10 from long range, and shot only 21% for the game. They did hit 13 of 13 from the foul line. They had 25 turnovers.
In the consolation game on Saturday against Collinwood, the Ladycats took an early 14 – 12 first quarter lead behind Savanna McClain’s 7 point first quarter. In the second, they increased the lead to 30 – 21 by halftime. The third saw the Trojanettes fight back, cutting the margin to two, 36 – 34. With 3:49 left in the game, Collinwood took the lead 37 – 36 on two free throws. The Ladycats tied the game at 38 all with 1:58 left, but Collinwood hit two free throws to make it 40 – 38. A Michaela Gallian basket with 1:14 left tied the contest at 40 all, then a three point play by Gallian put the Ladycats on top to stay as they went up 43 – 42. Free throws down the stretch by Kelley Baugus sealed the win at 47 – 42.
Baugus finished the contest with 17 points, Savanna McClain had 13, and Gallian finished with 11 to lead the Ladycats in the win. Baugus had 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists. McClain had 5 boards and 4 assists, and Gallian had 3 boards and 2 assists. Cambree Camfield and Charli Woodside each scored 3 points. Camfield had 3 boards, and Woodside had 2. Lauren Bryant had 2 rebounds, a steal, and 3 assists, and Henley Floyd had a steal. Lexie Lee had a rebound and a steal. The Ladycats hit 42.5% from the field and forced 20 Collinwood turnovers.
Ladycats, Senior Kelley Baugus and Sophomore Michaela Gallian, were named to the District 12 All Seasonal Team. With the third place finish, the Ladycats will travel to McKenzie on Friday night to face the second place team in District 11. Game time is 7 p.m. The winner will play on Monday, March 2nd, at WCHS, where the Region 6-1A tourney will be held. “GOOD LUCK LADYCATS!”—Submitted
