WESTPHALIA — Marmaton Valley Junior High’s boys and girls basketball teams wrapped up their seasons Thursday in Westphalia. THE WILDCAT girls A team trailed 10-3 after one period, 12-5 at halftime and 24-14 after three quarters before mounting a furious comeback. The Wildcats outscored Westphalia 8-3 in the final frame, falling five points shy.
The boys A team fell 52-38, while the B team prevailed 19-14.
The girls A team fell 27-22, while the B team came out on top 10-7 in two quarters.
The boys eighth-grade A team was led by Justice Pugh’s 15 points in the loss. Brock Hall scored six, Robert Muse five, Korbin Smith four, Tony Jefferis and Trevor Wilson with three apiece and Ethan Tavarez with two.
Tristan Fraker scored nine points to pace the B team in the win. Noah Foster added four. Smith, Brock Hall and Robert Muse scored two each.
“Both teams played probably their best games of the year tonight, and really left it all out on the court,” Wildcat coach Scott Brady said. “And being that it was our last game, it was really rewarding to see as a coach. We moved the ball well and got it up the court for some easy layups in both games. I saw some areas where the boys improved this year. Hopefully, they can use those skills next year.”
Kyla Drake led the way with 12 points, followed by Brooklynn Newman and Nalea Alexander with four apiece and Misty Storrer with two.
“This was a very physical game,” girls coach Kim Ens-minger said. “These girls did all they could, but just couldn’t come out on top. We had a great stretch of baskets by Kyla. The girls played well. It was a very intense game all night long.”
Megan Ensminger’s free throw late in the girls B team contest tied the score at 7-7. She later scored on an assist from Shayla Brooks to put the Wildcats on top by two. Brooks sealed the win later with a free throw.
Ensminger, Shayla Brooks and Trinitee Gutierrez had three points apiece. Makayla Brooks added a point.
“Our season ended on a good note,” Ensminger said.
The A team ended the season with a 4-10 mark. The B team wound up with a 6-8 mark, losing four games by a single point and another by two points.
MVJH teams wrap up season
