CHERRYVALE — Much like this weekend’s weather, Humboldt High’s girls saw their offense go cold Thursday evening.
The Lady Cubs fell behind early, and were clawing their way back in the third quarter, when shots stopped falling.
“I’m trying to think of something positive to say,” Humboldt head coach Aubrey Jones said after Cherryvale had a 19-1 run to pull away in a 60-34 win.
The loss drops Humboldt to 6-3 in advance of next week’s War on 54 midseason tournament in Iola.
Humboldt opens the tournament against St. Paul at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Iola High School gymnasium before taking on either Iola or Crest on Thursday.
Cherryvale’s Kadynce Forman had the hot hand early, draining three 3-pointers. Humboldt’s Kenisyn Hottenstein kept things close for the Lady Cubs, scoring six points as the Chargers took a 15-12 lead into the second quarter.
Humboldt began racking up the fouls in the second quarter, allowing Cherryvale to go 7 of 8 from the line, pulling ahead 30-19 at the break.
Humboldt’s offense found its groove in the third quarter. The sisters Hottenstein, Skylar and Kenisyn, both hit 3-pointers, and Skylar’s driving layup had the Lady Cubs within 41-33 late in the period.
But Cherryvale clamped down on defense, forcing a myriad of missed shots and turnovers.
Jailee Reister was a particular thorn in the Lady Cubs’ side. She scored eight of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Chargers cruised to the win.
A lack of depth on Humboldt’s part may have played a role. The Lady Cubs’ thin bench has grown even thinner with junior sharpshooter McKenna Jones sidelined from injuries she suffered in a traffic accident during the Christmas break.
Coach Jones is uncertain when she’ll return.
That left Humboldt in dire straits after Skylar Hottenstein, the team’s starting point guard, was whistled for her fifth foul early in the fourth quarter.
“Kenisyn did some good things,” Jones said. “We had some different sparks through the night. I thought Laney (Hull) did some good things.”
Kenisyn Hottenstein led Humboldt with 11 points. Shelby Shaughnessy followed with eight. Skylar Hottenstein wound up with seven.
