MORAN – Going into Thursday night’s games in the annual Marmaton Valley High Preseason Basketball Tournament, Marmaton Valley High’s teams and Northeast High’s teams were in the same boat.
The Wildcat boys and Viking boys were 1-0 in tournament play. Marmaton Valley’s girls and Northeast’s girls were each 0-1.
Marmaton Valley’s boys staged a second-half rally that came up one point short. Northeast-Arma’s Vikings edged the hosting Wildcats 38-37.
Northeast went into Friday’s final game of the round-robin event at 2-0 against Oswego (1-1), which beat West Elk 42-38 Thursday. Marmaton Valley, at 1-1 in the tournament, played West Elk, 0-2, Friday.
In Thursday’s game, Northeast’s Vikings pushed ahead for a 22-12 halftime advantage. The Wildcats chipped away in the second half with a 14-8 run in the third.
Trailing 30-26 going into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats had an 11-8 scoring edge. It was one point shy of tying the game.
Zach Louk led the Wildcats with 12 points. Cole Becker added eight. The Wildcats were 6 of 7 at the free-throw line.
Chase Cleland was the top scorer of the night for Northeast with 16 points. The Vikings attempted 11 free throws and hit none.
ON THE GIRLS’ side of the tournament, Oswego took the lead in the tournament standings with a 36-23 win over West Elk Thursday. Oswego was 2-0 going into Friday’s game against Northeast, which moved to 1-1 with its 32-22 win over Marmaton Valley Thursday.
The host Wildcat girls are 0-2 in tournament play and took on West Elk (1-1) Friday night.
The Wildcats were in Thursday’s game with Northeast’s Vikings until the final period. After the Viking girls had staked out a 10-4 first-quarter lead, the Wildcats held the Vikings scoreless for eight minutes while catching up. Northeast led 10-9 at halftime.
Each team scored seven points in the third quarter. Northeast outscored Marmaton Valley 15-6 down the stretch to get the 10-point win.
Kacie Shadden scored seven points for Marmaton Valley. Kailey Boyd added six. The Wildcats were 5 of 10 at the line.
Shelby Lehman hit four three-point field goals on her way to a game-high 16 points for Northeast. The Vikings hit 4 of 9 free throw attempts.
Marmaton Valley boys (6-6-14-11-37) (FG/3-pt): Louk 4/1-1-3-12, Smith 1-0-3-2, Carr 0/2-0-0-6, Becker 3-2-2-8, Frye 1-3-2-5, Stewart 1-0-0-2, Smart 1-0-2-2. TOTALS: 11/3-6-12-37.
Northeast boys (13-9-8-8-38) (FG/3-pt): Richardson 1/2-0-2-8, McCloud 1-0-2-2, Baker 2-0-1-4, Robinson 1-0-2-2, Chandler 0-0-1-0, Popejoy 3-0-3-6, Cleland 8-0-3-16. TOTALS: 16/2-0-14-38.
Marmaton Valley girls (4-5-7-6-22) (FG/3-pt): Ensminger 1-0-3-2, Cavender 0-0-1-0, Boyd 2-2-2-6, Shadden 1/1-2-3-7, Meiwes 1-1-1-3, Ford 1-0-1-2, Olson 1-0-1-2, Lance 0-0-1-0. TOTALS: 7/1-5-13-22.
Northeast girls (10-0-7-15-32) (FG/3-pt): Lehman 1/4-2-5-16, Bogina 1-1-1-3, Tindle 1-0-0-2, Nunn 1-0-3-2, Choate 1-0-2-2, Tims 1-0-1-2, Smith 2-1-3-5. TOTALS: 8/4-4-15-32.
