HUMBOLDT — Coach David Taylor thought his Humboldt high Cubs needed a good test Tuesday night. The Burlington High Wildcats gave him exactly what he was looking for.
While the Cubs pulled out a 70-64 victory, at no point was the game handed to them. Over the course of the game, there were 13 lead changes and impressive runs from both teams.
“We were fortunate we got some good plays at the end, it could have gotten ugly,” Taylor said.
As for his “test,” he was glad to have it.
“We really needed it, it was good for us,” he said.
Nathan Whitcomb and Trey Johnson hit early from the paint for the Cubs, but Preston Beyer and Grant Shell quickly responded from outside for Burlington.
The offenses were well stacked against each other. The Cubs dominated from inside and the Wildcats consistently hit from long-range. Tanner McNutt hit a 3-pointer with two minutes left in the quarter to put the Cubs up 11-9. Burlington bounced back with a buzzer-beater to put themselves up 14-13 going into the second.
By that point, the teams had swapped leads five separate times. It didn’t slow down from there. McNutt and Nathan Whitcomb began to heat up, as did Shell and Ian Schepers for the Wildcats. The visiting team’s lead swelled to 26-21 with 3:39 left in the second quarter.
Neither team could make a productive effort without a quick response from their opponent.
The Cubs had a surge to end the half with scores from McNutt and Hunter Murrow. McNutt completed a three point opportunity on a drive to end the half with the Cubs up 34-31.
Humboldt capped a 10-0 run with some free throws from Noah Thornbrugh and McNutt to start the half.
The foul line ended up being the Cubs’ saving grace as the game’s conclusion came nearer. The finale was set with the game tied 49-49 going into the fourth.
Shell hit a 3-pointer for the Wildcats to start the quarter, followed immediately by a 3-pointer from Johnson for Humboldt. Thornbrugh then went 4-for-4 from the line.
At this point, the Wildcats’ fouls began to mount and Humboldt was in the bonus.
McNutt hit both shots from the line on a 1-and-1 to put the Cubs up 59-57, giving Humboldt the lead for good. Preston Beyer and Schepers both fouled out for the Wildcats midway through the fourth, followed by Ryan Redding.
Murrow made a break down the court and put up a 3-pointer. His hands were up in celebration before it even swished through the net. The energy in the gym began to turn as the Cubs were sent to the foul line multiple times. Thornbrugh hit two more free throws to cap the scoring.
“I think I get more frazzled than they do,” Taylor said. “I thought Burlington played really well.”
McNutt led Humboldt with 24 points, followed by Noah Thornbrugh with 16 and Murrow with 13.
“Noah made some key plays late in the game,” Taylor said.
Thornbrugh led in rebounds, with nine. Nathan Whitcomb had five assists. Thornbrugh, Johnson and Whitcomb each had one steal.
As for the Wildcats, Grant Shell was nearly unstoppable from outside — he had 26 points. Ryan Redding was nearly as productive, with 20.
The Cubs maintained a perfect record with the win over Burlington. They travel to Cherryvale next Tuesday to face the Chargers.
Burlington (14-17-18-15—64)
Humboldt (13-21-15-21—70)
Burlington (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Redding 6/2-2-5-20, Moyer 1/1-0-1-5, Shell 5/5-1-1-26, Ratzlaff 0/1-0-3-3, P. Beyer 2-0-5-4, Schepers 3-0-5-6. TOTALS: 17/9-3-20-64.
Humboldt (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): McNutt 3/3-9-4-24, Murrow 2/3-0-0-13, Whitcomb 3-3-2-9, Johnson 2/1-1-0-8, Thornbrugh 4-8-4-16. TOTALS: 14/7-21-10-70.
Cubs fend off Burlington, 70-64
