Second-half defense fuels win for Wildcats

YATES CENTER — Yates Center High’s Wildcats led the non-league game from the start. But a “not-so-good” second quarter left the Cats up by just four.
The Wildcats limited the visiting Hartford High Jaguars to five points in the third quarter. Yates Center poured in 22 which propelled the Wildcat boys to a 72-59 victory.
“We jumped out early and Hartford came back on us in the second quarter. We were fortunate to have the lead at halftime,” said Jason Weilert, YCHS boys’ head coach.
“We played really well defensively in the third quarter and shut them down.”
Paul Stockebrand had a double-double for the Cats with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Yates Center cashed in 16 of 29 free throw attempts.
Jake Morrison dropped in 18 points and Dalton Smith added 16. Blake Francis hit three three-pointers as he scored 11 points.
Mike Wilson hit four of the Jaguars’ nine threes in the game. Wilson finished with 16 points. Matt Troyer had 14 points and Lane Ikerd chipped in with 10.
Hartford was 3 of 19 from the free-throw line.
Yates Center improved to 8-2 overall. The Wildcats play West Elk Tuesday.
In a junior varsity game, Hartford won 45-29. Robert Arnold scored 10 points for Yates Center.
Yates Center (18-14-22-18—72) (FG/3-pt): Morrison 4/2-4-2-18, Knoblock 2-0-2-4, Aguirre 1-0-3-2, Francis 0/3-2-1-11, Stockebrand 7-7-3-21, Smith 5/1-3-5-16. TOTALS: 19/6-16-16-72.
Hartford (10-18-5-26—59) (FG/3-pt): Wilkerson 3-2-3-8, Ikerd 3/1-1-1-10, Barrett 0-0-5-0, Troyer 5/1-0-3-14, Veatch 0/1-0-5-3, Wilson 2/4-0-0-16, Craft 0/2-0-3-6, Schwinghamer 1-0-4-2. TOTALS: 14/9-3-24-59.