CHETOPA — Denny Lasley figured to take it a bit easier on his players in practice today.
“They’ve earned it,” he said.
Not only did Marmaton Valley play its third game in five nights — part of a seven-game in 14-day stretch for the Wildcats — but the Wildcats exerted a tremendous amount of energy to pull off a come-from-behind 46-41 win over Chetopa High.
“They just got after it in the second half,” Lasley said. “They’re going to sleep well tonight.”
The Wildcats overcame a 10-point halftime deficit by deploying a full-court, man-to-man defense.
By the end of the third quarter, Marmaton Valley had trimmed a 30-20 halftime deficit to 32-27.
The run continued into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats took the lead, then sealed the win with clutch free throw shooting by Cole Becker and Zach Louk.
Becker wound up with 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals to lead the Wildcats. Dalton Houk drained four three-pointers en route to 14 points. Louk and Tanner Lewis each had five assists.
Kyle Darnell scored 11 points and Ryan Bruning 10 for the Hornets.
Marmaton Valley resumes play Friday at Pleasanton.
Marmaton Valley (7-13-7-19—46) (FG/3-pt): Stephens 0-0-1-0, Lewis 0-0-2-0, Louk 3-2-2-8, Houk 1/4-0-1-14, Hammond 0-1-2-1, Becker 5/2-2-3-18, Stewart 1-0-0-2, Smart 1-1-0-3. TOTALS: 11/6-6-11-46.
Chetopa (16-14-2-10—41) (FG/3-pt): Hull-Jones 2/1-0-2-7, Pike 2-0-1-4, Bruning 1/2-2-2-10, Pike 1-0-1-2, Merchant 3-1-4-7, Darnell 5-1-1-11. TOTALS: 14/3-4-11-41.
CHETOPA — Any troubles that Marmaton Valley High’s girls had on the offensive end, they were more than able to make up for with a hustling defense.
The Wildcats thumped host Chetopa High 38-27, despite shooting only 22 percent from the field and 31 percent (9 of 28) from the free throw line.
“I was pleased with our defense, but we should have scored a lot more points,” Wildcat head coach Kent Houk said.
Many of the missed field goals came underneath the basket.
“We’ve got to get better on offense,” Houk said.
The Wildcats opened the game with a 12-3 run, then scored only 14 points over the second and third quarters combined. Still, Chetopa could only stay within nine at that point, 26-17.
Cheyanne Miller led the way for Marmaton Valley with 14 points, 11 rebounds and five steals. Maggie Meiwes added seven points and 10 rebounds. Kailey Boyd and Jamee McEndree also added five steals each.
Darian Pease scored 10 to lead the Hornets.
Marmaton Valley travels to Pleasanton Friday, part of a seven-game in 14-day stretch for the Wildcats, who have had to make up several games because of inclement weather earlier this month.
Marmaton Valley (12-5-9-12—38) (FG/3-pt): Miller 5/1-1-5-14, Boyd 0/1-0-3-3, Shadden 1-1-0-3, Meiwes 3-1-4-7, Ford 0-0-1-0, McEndree 0-0-2-0, Henry 3-5-2-11. TOTALS: 12/2-8-17-38.
Chetopa (3-9-5-10—27) (FG/3-pt): Pease 1/2-2-4-10, Conard 1-0-4-2, Underwood 2-1-3-5, Brown 0-1-1-1, Jackson 0-0-1-0, Carrell 2-2-3-6, Ern. Kabrey 0-1-4-1, Erc. Kabrey 1-0-1-2. TOTALS: 7/2-7-21-7.
MVHS squads down Hornets
