ST. PAUL — The Yates Center High boys let a rough third quarter get the best of them in a 57-41 loss to St. Paul on Tuesday.
The Wildcats (3-12) got down early St. Paul scored 11 points in the first behind Trey Peters’ couple of three’s. Cash Cummings also scored five including a three. Yates Center trailed at the end of the first, 11-5.
The Wildcats got into the game in the second quarter when Emmit Brittain hit a three and banked in a layup and Emmet George scored four to come within four points, 23-14.
“Moving forward we just have to get the five guys on the court doing their individual job,” said Yates Center head coach Lane Huffman. “We’ve proven over the last two weeks we have what it takes to win. This is a minor setback and we look forward to bouncing back.”
The Indians took advantage of fouls, scoring five free throws. Kiser Wiatrak also hit a three to help St. Paul cling to their four-point lead at halftime.
St. Paul came out fired up after the break. Peters hit a couple three’s and 14 points total in the third while Vincent Smith hit two three’s and a two-point basket. The Indians outscored the Wildcats 47-29 heading into the fourth.
“Outside of the third quarter we played St Paul to an even game,” Huffman said. “We had a lapse in doing the little things right. Boxing out and taking care of the ball are important to be a successful basketball team and we didn’t do that collectively tonight.”
Brittain scored six in the fourth, the only scorer for Yates Center, which fell 57-41 to St. Paul.
Cummings led Yates Center offensively with 17 points, followed by Brittain’s 11 points and George’s eight points.
Yates Center takes on Southern Coffey County on the road Friday at 6 p.m.
Yates Center (13/3-6-19—41) (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Shepard 0-1-0-1, Weber 0-0-5-0, Cummings 4/2-3-4-17, Birk 1-0-2-2, George 4-0-3-8, Brittain 3/1-2-3-11, Audiss 1-0-2-2.
