HUMBOLDT Aubrey Jones isnt fond of losing, but Fridays defeat for Humboldt Highs girls, a 52-49 setback to Erie, left her optimistic.
Humboldt came up just shy with a ferocious fourth-quarter comeback, trimming a double-digit deficit to two points with several opportunities to tie before the Red Devils sealed the game with free throws in the final minute.
That was our team fighting and coming together, Jones said. If a couple of shots could have fallen, that would have made all the difference in the world.
The Lady Cubs held Erie scoreless from the field in the fourth quarter, trimming what had been a 47-36 deficit to 47-45 with Maggie Johnsons bucket with 3:36 remaining.
Humboldt came up empty on its next four possessions as the score stayed 47-45 until less than a minute remained.
Eries Molly LaForge ended the drought with a pair of free throws the Red Devils first points of the period with 49 seconds left.
The lead grew to 50-45 before Humboldts Kaylie Johnson scored at the 21 second mark.
Another Red Devil free throw led to the frantic last few seconds. Aricah McCall was fouled as she made a basket. She missed the free throw on purpose, but Eries Ashlynn Aikins corralled the rebound. She hit the first charity but missed the second.
Trailing by 3, the Lady Cubs were unable to get off a desperation full-court heave before the clock expired.
Humboldt took an early 19-12 lead, courtesy of McCalls nine first-quarter points.
But her early scoring binge soon was eclipsed by Aikins of Erie, who outscored the Lady Cubs by herself 10-6, as the Red Devils took a 29-26 lead into intermission.
Aikins and Skyler Clevenger then keyed an 11-0 run in the third quarter that pushed Erie ahead, 45-32.
Kudos to Aikins, Jones said. She had a hell of a game
Aikins wound up with 24 points, followed by Aikins with 15 and Laforge with 10. (Only four Red Devils scored on the night.)
McCall paced Humboldt with 17 points, followed by Maggie Johnson with 14 and Kaylie Johnson with six.
Humboldt resumes action next Friday at Neodesha.
Thursday
Humboldt 45, Crest 33
A flurry of 3-pointers from Maggie Johnson broke open a close game Thursday. Her teammates took it from there, keeping visiting Crest at bay in the Lady Cubs 45-33 victory.
Johnsons connected three times from beyond the arc over a 3½ minute span in the second quarter, turning what had been a 9-9 deadlock into a 20-11 lead.
Maggie got it started, and then we started to play our game, Jones said. My team finally showed up.
Crests Rylee Beckmon sandwiched field goals around a pair of Cassie Bowen free throws. Beckmons baseline runner with 4:20 left in the game cut Humboldts lead to 35-32.
It turned out to be Crests final field goal of the night.
Humboldts Winter Snyder scored on a putback from a missed Maggie Johnson free throw, Aricah McCall followed with a steal, two free throws and a short jumper to push the lead to eight. Morgan Mauks free throws with 1:22 left put Humboldt on top by double digits for good.
Weve got kids ready to step in and play their roles. They know what they need to do. They did a great job of coming in and taking care of the ball and making sure we still stayed in our sets.
Maggie Johnson led the way with 13 points. McCall followed with 10.
Regan Godderz scored a game-high 14 to lead Crest. Beckmon followed with 13.
Friday
Erie (12-17-18-552) (FG/3pt): LaForge 1/1-5-4-10, N. Aikins 0-0-2-0, LaRue 0-0-1-0, Clevenger 3/2-3-4-5, Vincent 0-0-1-0, A. Aikins 10-4-2-24, Kramer 0-0-2-0, Brant 1-1-1-3. TOTALS: 15/3-13-17-52.
Humboldt (19-6-11-1349) (FG/3pt): Snyder 0-2-4-2, Mauk 1-2-5-4, McCall 7-3-4-17, K. Johnson 2-2-1-6, Puckett 1-2-2-4, A. Johnson 10-3-2, M. Johnson 4/2-0-3-14. TOTALS: 16/2-11-22-49.
Thursday
Crest (9-8-9-733) (FG/3pt): Strickler 0-2-2-2, Armstrong 0-1-2-1, R. Godderz 5/1-1-1-14, Holloran 1-1-1-3, Bowen 0-2-3-2, L. Godderz 0-0-3-0, Beckmon 3/1-2-4-12. TOTALS: 9/2-9-16-33.
Humboldt (9-15-9-1245) (FG/3pt): Snyder 3-0-2-6, Mauk 1-2-4-4, McCall 3-4-4-10, K. Johnson 1-1-1-3, Puckett 1-1-1-3, A. Johnson 0-3-3-3, M. Johnson 2 /3-0-2-13, Hart 0-3-1-3. TOTALS: 11/3-14-18-45.
