HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High’s Cubs shot 68 percent from the field. Tanner McNutt scored a career-high 31 points for the Cubs.
It didn’t matter.
Caney Valley High’s Bullpups came up with late-game rebounds and rallied to beat their hosts, 56-52 Tuesday. In another Tri-Valley League contest, the Cubs allowed a lead to slip away — twice to the Bullpups.
“Sixteen rebounds — that’s the game,” said David Taylor, Humboldt head coach, as he looked over the scorebook and game statistics from Tuesday’s game.
“We got outworked on the boards tonight and that made a big difference.”
With the loss, the Cubs are 6-4 in TVL play and 10-6 overall. Humboldt goes to Yates Center Friday in league play.
Next week, the Cubs have home games with Cherryvale on Tuesday and Eureka on Friday, which is Humboldt’s Sweetheart contest.
McNutt got the Cubs and himself off to a good start. His three-pointer with 4:49 left in the first quarter put the Cubs up 7-2.
With the game at 7-5, McNutt drove to the basket, scored and was fouled. He missed the free throw but teammate Noah Thornbrugh grabbed the rebound.
Thornbrugh, the Cubs’ 6-6 post player, made a pass right back to McNutt for a basket. Thornbrugh’s second bucket of the quarter came with 17 seconds left to put Humboldt up 13-7.
The Bullpups trailed 13-9 going into second quarter. Thornbrugh’s putback pushed the Cubs’ lead to 17-9.
Caney Valley went inside to its big guy — 6-3 Joshua Matthews, who delivered back-to-back baskets. Humboldt’s lead bounced from three to five points until late in the period.
Dustin Mullinax made it 28-24 with 1:36 left. Humboldt had the basketball but Phillip Nelson stole it and scored with 31 seconds on the clock.
The Cubs were up by just two points, 28-26, at the break.
“I told our kids at halftime that Caney was going to hang around and hang around then put pressure on us late. That’s how they beat us down there earlier,” Taylor said.
