YATES CENTER — Sean Hurst poured in 30 points to carry the offensive load, while the entire Yates Center High defense did its job, particularly in the second half.
The Wildcats pulled ahead of Cherryvale for good early in the fourth quarter and hit just enough free throws to keep things well in hand for a 59-54 victory.
The win gives Yates Center third place in the Wildcat Winter Classic.
“We just played a really good defensive game overall,” Yates Center head coach Jeremy Neville said, noting the Wildcats went with a six-man rotation. “We’re a little shorthanded due to illness.”
The game went back and forth through much of the first three quarters.
Hurst scored 10 of Yates Center’s first 14, but Cherryvale’s Jackson Knight and Fischer Hay each hit a pair of 3-pointers in the first half as the Chargers took a 28-25 lead into the break.
Neither team could gain the upper hand through an even third period.
Jack King hit a free throw to push Yates Center ahead 37-36 to open the fourth quarter, triggering a 7-0 Wildcat run. Hurst capped the rally with a reverse layup to push YC on top, 43-36.
His free throws later in the period briefly pushed the Wildcat lead to 41-31, but Cherryvale had one last salvo remaining.
The lead was 55-46 when Cherryvale’s Briggs Adkinson scored inside. Back-to-back Wildcat turnovers turned into layups by the Chargers’ Stetson Hemel-Schafer, and suddenly the gap was at 55-52 with 44 seconds remaining.
Jayston Rice ended the spurt with a free throw for Yates Center, and the Wildcats forced back-to-back Cherryvale turnovers as Hurst sealed the game from the line. He hit 9 of 12 free throws in the fourth quarter (12 of 17 for the game).
“Sean carried the load scoring-wise, but we had kids step up,” Neville said. “Canon Cavender hit some big shots. Jayston Rice and Jack King really did some nice things, too. It was a good team effort.”
King wound up with 10 points; Rice scored eight and Cavender six. Carter Burton added four.
Adkinson poured in 21 points — 15 in the second half — to pace Cherryvale. Knight added 13 and Hempel-Schafer had 10.
Cherryvale (11-17-8-18—54) FG/3pt FT F TP
Hempel Schafer 5 0 4 10, Elam 0 0 1 0, Knight 2/3 0 1 13, Hey 1/2 0 3 8, Monroy 0 0 3 0, Vigil 0 0 3 0, Robertson 1 0 1 2, Adkinson 9/1 0 4 21, Hooper 0 0 2 0. TOTALS: 18/6-0-21-54
