Anderson County High’s firepower was too much for Humboldt High’s girls.
The Bulldogs’ senior standouts Kylie Disbrow and Caitlyn Foltz scored in double figures, and Anderson County’s defense was stifling in the first half of a 49-35 victory in the championship game of Iola’s War on 54 Tournament.
But in defeat, the Lady Cubs showed how potent they can be as the 2023-24 season reaches its unofficial halfway mark.
With junior Shelby Shaughnessy getting loose inside, and a trio of Lady Cub defenders — Kenisyn and Skylar Hottenstein and Laney Hull — more than willing to harass opposing ball handlers, Humboldt was able to keep pace with Anderson County throughout the second half.
“I hate to lose, but I told the girls we may get to see these guys again at substate,” Humboldt head coach Aubrey Jones said.
Anderson County led 12-6 after one quarter and 25-11 at the break, and looked to have things well in control.
Humboldt had other plans.
The Lady Cubs repeatedly found Shaughnessy down low, and she was able to maneuver her way around the taller Anderson County defenders for a variety of layups and short jumpers, even after she had three consecutive shots blocked from behind by Disbrow during one frustrating stretch.
“Unfortunately, she was pulling the ball up behind her head, and that’s how they were able to get the blocks,” Jones said. “We got her to do a pump fake, and go strong through her chest with the ball. Once she figured that out, she was back to doing what she needed.”
Jones had intended for Humboldt to slow the tempo.
“I didn’t want to get into a footrace, but they did,” Jones laughed. “And we were ready.”
The Hottensteins repeatedly buzzed around midcourt to plug passing lanes.
“Skylar and Kenisyn like to do this fun little tag team,” Jones said. “And Laney’s jumping into the mix. The three of them are like waterbugs. They like to create havoc.”
The Lady Cubs kept the margin to about 10 throughout the second half, but couldn’t keep Disbrow from scoring, either.
“She’s just so consistent down low,” Jones said. “When she gets the ball there, she’s deadly.”
Disbrow wound up with 15 points. Foltz, who started the tournament by draining 11 3-pointers in a 39-point explosion earlier in the week, wound up with 13. Kenisyn Hottenstein added five for Humboldt.
