CHERRYVALE — On Saturday, the Humboldt Lady Cubs rattled Osawatomie to claim first place in the Pleasanton Blue-Jays Mid-Season Tournament. But on Monday, the Lady Cubs failed to replicate the winning formula.
The Lady Cubs faced a tall mountain to climb at intermission, trailing by 19 at the half. And while Humboldt pushed back, the whole initial hole was too large to climb out of. The Chargers held on late 45-40 victory.
“We came within four, and then it was one of those situations where you could see them panic,” Humboldt head coach Aubrey Jones said. “As long as you stay cool, calm, and collected you are doing ok, but as soon as you start to panic and playing not to lose, then you’ll be out of it.”
The Lady Cubs trailed 8-12 after the first period. Jada Dangerfield hit the ground running in the first, scoring six of Humboldt’s eight points. Dangerfield continue to be a menace in the paint the rest of the way, finishing with a team-high 16 points.
“She finally stopped putting the ball on the floor,” Jones said. “When she puts the ball on the floor down low, defenses collapse and gets a turnover. When she stops putting the ball on the floor and just goes up with it then she is unstoppable.”
Dangerfield was kept in check in the second, managing only one point in the period. Cherryvale constructed an 11-0 run before a Humboldt timeout. The Chargers stood in control heading into the locker room, leading 32-13.
“We didn’t rotate and play defense the way we are capable of,” Jones said. “We kind of let each other out to dry and it showed. Out defense always dictates out offense. If our defense is going then the offense will come naturally, and if our defense isn’t on then they start forcing it.”
Jones’ words proves true in the third. The Lady Cubs held Cherryvale to four points in the period, but it was the offensive efficiency that led the charge. Karley Wools brought the Lady Cubs within single digits after her deuce, and Kirstyn Murrow inched Humboldt closer with a bucket to make the score 36-29.
Jessica Myers played a key role in Humboldt’s second-half charge. The junior scored half of her 12 second-half points in the third, which enabled the Lady Cubs to stay in striking distance.
In the fourth, Winter Snyder connected on 1 of 2 free throws to bring Humboldt within four, its smallest deficit since the second quarter. But that was the closest Humboldt go to lead as they failed to come up with crucial defensive stops and clutch baskets down the stretch. Cherryvale defeated Humboldt 45-40.
“They didn’t quit, and that’s good,” Jones said. “We talked about the fact that we didn’t quit, but imagine if you would have come out like that in the first place.”
The Lady Cubs will be back in action tonight against Bluestem at home. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
BOX SCORE
Humboldt (8-5-16-12—41) (pts): Snyder 3, Murrow 2, Myers 14, Dangerfield 16, Wools 6.
Cherryvale (12-20-4-13) (pts): Umbarger 5, McGhee 8, Lantz 14, Plumley 14, Monnoy 6, Allen 2.
