YATES CENTER—Tentative play cost Yates Center High’s Wildcats a win Friday against Neodesha High’s Bluestreaks as they fell on their home court 41-28.
The Wildcats and Bluestreaks traded buckets early on but the early edge went to Neodesha. The Bluestreaks led 8-7 after one.
In the second, the offense went cold for Yates Center. Despite holding the Bluestreaks to just seven second-quarter points, the Wildcats’ inability to secure offensive rebounds led to just four points of their own in the period.
“We weren’t very aggressive all night,” said Abbie Collins, head coach of the Wildcats. “Second chance points hurt us.”
Still, Yates Center found itself within striking distance throughout the second half. A four-point deficit to start the third period soon turned into an eight-point hole as the Bluestreaks outscored the Wildcats for a third consecutive quarter.
Neodesha led 27-19 heading into the final period of play and didn’t let it go.
“We weren’t attacking offensively and we were settling for the outside shots and they weren’t falling,” Collins said.
Neodesha’s Megan Littau led all players with 13 points followed by teammate Katrina Farmer with 12.
The Wildcat offense was paced by Emily Baker with eight points. Yates Center’s Mindi Holloway had seven points and a team-high six rebounds.
Yates Center (7-4-8-11—28) (FG/3-pt): Steinforth 0-0-5-0, Knowles 0-2-0-2, Baker 1/2-0-2-8, Holloway 2-3-1-7, Francis 2-0-1-4, Karmann 0-2-2-2, Leach 0-0-2-0, Chambers 1-1-4-3, Estes 1-0-1-2. TOTALS: 7/2-8-18-28.
Neodesha (8-7-12-14—41): Ivey 1-5-2-7, Farmer 5-2-5-12, Granger 2-1-2-5, Arnold 1-0-2-2, Pearson 1-0-4-2, Littau 5-3-1-13. TOTALS: 14-11-16-41.
