OSWEGO — If it wasn’t for the second quarter the Yates Center Wildcats likely would have come out on top against the Oswego Indians on Tuesday.
Instead the Wildcats managed only two points in that disappointing quarter, creating a gap too big to overcome in a 53-42 loss
Emmett Britain tipped things off for the Wildcats offensively when he sank a pair of three’s while Emmit George banked in a couple of layups.
Oswego had their own game plan. Goddard hit a pair of three’s and O’Neal also hit a three-pointer to take a 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Cash Cummings kept Yates Center on the board in the second quarter with a layup. For Oswego, Goddard nailed a three and Ja. Hutchinson scored a layup and a couple of free throws to get a 26-13 advantage at half.
“Our offensive output was great tonight,” said Yates Center head coach Lane Huffman. “The part that hurt us, is we only did that for three quarters. In the second quarter we failed to execute. I think that has to do with fatigue, we came out fast and we were gassed in the second. Execution was poor and that’s what kept us out of the game.”
In the second half, Britain knocked down a pair of three-point jumpers while George was good for a trio of layups. Goddard buried a couple of three’s in the third quarter for Oswego to keep their lead at 34-27.
The Wildcats clawed back offensively in the final quarter when Cummings scored 11 points, including a three and a trio of two-point baskets. Britain also went inside for a pair of layups but it wasn’t enough as Oswego pulled away with 19 more points.
“Emmett Britain did a great job knocking down shots for us, he really kept us in the game,” Huffman said. “Cash did great in the fourth, scoring at all three levels. Emmit George also scored some baskets for us. We’re going to keep leaning on him, once things start clicking, George can lead us offensively.”
O’Neal led the Indians’ fourth-quarter offensive effort with seven points after knocking down a pair of three’s and Hutchinson’s two-point basket and four free throws. Oswego held on to defeat Yates Center, 53-42.
Britain led with 16 points, followed by Cummings 15 points and George’s 10 points for the trio of Yates Center scorers to finish in double figures.
Yates Center is in Uniontown on Friday at 6 p.m.
