HUMBOLDT—Homecoming night didn’t go as planned for the Humboldt High Cubs girls basketball team Friday. A slow start put the home team in a hole it couldn’t get out of and the Cubs lost to Eureka High’s Tornadoes 46-27.
Early offensive struggles had the Cubs down right off the bat and Eureka rolled into the second period with a 15-2 advantage.
“The thing that’s plagued us all year is having the confidence to think we don’t deserve to play on the same court as these other teams,” said Sherri Nelson, Humboldt head coach. “It always takes us the first quarter to get into gear.”
The Cubs missed five layups in the opening period.
In the second period, the Cubs offense woke up and the Humboldt squad managed seven points in the quarter. Still, the Tornadoes were too much, forcing two more points than their opponents.
Down 23-9 to open the second half, the Cubs continued to push the ball up the court and scored 11 in the third period. But, again, Eureka outpaced Humboldt, scoring 14 points of its own.
Facing a 17-point deficit heading into the final period, the Cubs couldn’t muster a comeback and fell by 19 points.
Setting the pace for all players was Eureka’s senior forward Bailee Barrett with 12 points. The Cubs offense was led by Whitney Strack with five points.
Despite the loss, Nelson said she was happy with effort her team demonstrated.
Humboldt (2-7-11-7—27) (FG/3-pt): Kline 0-4-1-4, Maxton 2-0-0-4, Riebel 2-2-18, Strack 2-1-1-5, Young 0-0-4-0, Umholtz 0-0-1-0, Middleton 1-1-3-3, Morris 1-1-2-3, Wilson 1-2-3-4. TOTALS: 8-11-16-27.
Eureka (15-8-14-9—46): Corns 3/1-0-3-9, Barrett 4-4-4-12, Boulanger 0-2-2-2, Pitko 4-1-3-9, Schwartz 2/1-0-1-7, Garner 0-2-2-2, Basham 1-0-2-2, Bitler 0-0-1-0, Herb 0-0-1-0, Mouer 1-1-3-3. TOTALS: 15/2-10-22-46.
