Cherryvale edges Cubs 55-52

After a hard fought week of action in Yates Center, the boys bracket came down to Humboldt and Cherryvale. While Humboldt's Trey Sommer scored 23 points, the Cubs were bested by the Chargers

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January 24, 2022 - 9:17 AM

Humboldt's Trey somer waits for a rebound after putting up a shot. Photo by Reese Becker / Iola Register

YATES CENTER — A week of basketball action all came down to two teams Friday night with Humboldt High and Cherryvale boys facing off for first place.

Both teams came ready to play and struck on offense quickly. Humboldt’s  Trey Sommer had the start to what would be a 23-point night with 10 points in the first, but Cherryvale’s Stetson Schafer did him a little better in the first half, scoring 13 points. Schafer was money from the line all night, hitting 6-8 in the first half.

Cherryvale led 29-22.

Coming out of the half, Humboldt looked re-energized and played better on defense by keeping Schafer in the distance. With that, Cherryvale went to Fisher Hey who drained two big threes in the third to help Cherryvale keep Humboldt at bay.

The Cub offense could never quite match the defense’s effort and was unable to reel the lead back in, despite six points from Sommer in the third. Cherryvale outscored the Cubs by two in the third.

At the outset, the fourth quarter seemed to be a different story, Humboldt closed off the lane, forcing Cherryvale to rely on shots from the free throw line. The Chargers got plenty of opportunities to get to the line also. Humboldt started fouling en masse as the game came to a close, hoping to get the Chargers to the line to expedite that end of the floor. Humboldt wanted to preserve time so they could run their offense.

The only problem with that plan was Cherryvale’s execution. Schafer hit 4-4 and Trevin Elam hit 2-2 to help Cherryvale cling to a lead.

Then, with mere seconds left, Humboldt had two shots at a potential game-winner but neither could fall for the Cubs as Cherryvale players celebrated the win.

“We had no pulse until the last two and a half minutes of the game,” said Humboldt head coach David Taylor. “They outplayed us in every facet. We gave up too many offensive rebounds and they lived at the free throw line because we were so flat-footed on defense.”

Sommer’s 23 points led the way for the Cubs. Gavin Page had nine. Drew Wilhite had six. Levi McGowen and Colton Slocum both had four each. Blake Ellis had two.

Schafer led the way for Cherryvale with 21 points. Jackson Knight had 13. Briggs Adkinson had nine. Elam and Fisher Hey both had six.

Humboldt is 6-3 and will be back in action on Tuesday at home against Leon-Bluestem.

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