HUMBOLDT— Humboldt Middle School’s boys basketball teams rounded out the season Monday against Caney Valley. Humboldt went 1-2, losing the C game 25-13 and B game 32-29. Strong performances from Mason Sterling and Collin Cook led the Cubs to a 45-41 win in the A game.
The C game started slow for the Cubs, mustering only two points in each of the first quarters. That would be fine if the defense held, but it didn’t and Caney jumped out to a 10-4 lead early on. Despite putting up a better offensive showcase in the second half, the Cubs could not rebound, putting up only three points in the third, and six in the fourth while the Bullpups pulled away. The teams tied in rebounds with 20 each.
Taner King led the Cubs with six points. Emmitt Carson had four. Carson Peters had two. Maxtyn Mueller had one. The Cubs C team finishes the season with a 4-5 record.
The B game started close in the first quarter but quickly slipped away from the Cubs. After a 9-6 first, the Cub defense lapsed to allow the Bullpups a 13-point second. Humboldt trailed 22-14 at the half.
The third quarter was vastly different than the second. Humboldt’s defense stepped up to limit the Bullpups to a single point while scoring nine of their own to tie the game 23-23. Humboldt and Caney were neck-and-neck in rebounding
A lapse in defense in the fourth cost the Cubs the game. They just couldn’t score enough in the fourth. Grady Elder, Kreed Jones, and Thatcher Muller each scored six points. Elder was also 3-5 from the field. Hudson Rees had four points. Carson Russell had three. Taner King and Carson Peters had two.
Coming into the A game, the Bullpups were undefeated in league play but the Cubs had something to say about that. Two Cubs notched double-doubles. Collin Cook, and Mason Sterling combined for 38 points and 21 rebounds. Both teams scored in double digits out of the gate. The second quarter was more tame. Humboldt was able to use the second to extend the lead a little bit but Caney stayed close.
The Cubs led at the half 21-18.
Both the lead and momentum shifted in the Bullpups favor in the third and Caney took a one-point lead going into the fourth.
That’s when the stars came out for Humboldt. After the Bullpups hit a late three with less than 20 seconds left, Cook won the game for the Cubs down the stretch. Cook was gifted four shots at the free throw line and sank all four, playing great in the clutch.
Cook and Sterling were dynamite for the Cubs in the fourth. Cook led with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Sterling had 12 points and 11 boards. Braxton Gray and Creed Shannon had three. Layne Ellison had one.
“This was a great team win,” said Humboldt head coach Jeremy Weilert. “Collin Cook and Mason Sterling had great nights, but I cannot emphasize enough how big of a team win this was. I am super proud of how we came together as a team.”
