YATES CENTER — Yates Center High’s Wildcats broke through a nailbiter down the stretch, out-scoring Crest 21-6 in the fourth quarter to win, 51-37, Friday.
The win capped a sweep for the hosts. Yates Center defeated Crest 44-36 in girls action.
The loss ended the Lancer boys’ hopes of winning the Three Rivers League title.
“I was happy with our effort,” Crest head coach Travis Hermreck said. “We left it out on the court tonight. Yates Center made plays down the stretch that we couldn’t. We had some foul trouble to overcome, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”
The game was tight as a drum until the end. Crest led 12-11 after one quarter before Yates Center took a 20-18 lead into the break. The Lancers pulled back in front, 31-30, after three.
Sean Hurst scored 19 to lead the Wildcats, followed by Carter Burton with 12, Preston Hurst with nine, Cash Cummnings with five and Blake Audiss and Jack King with three each.
Tyson Hermreck’s 19 points led Crest to go along with eight rebounds. Kobey Miller was next with seven, Ethan Prasko had five, while Keaton Davis, Stratton McGhee and Stetson Setter had two apiece. Prasko pulled in 12 rebounds. Karter Miller had four steals.
“If we would’ve won one of our last two league games we would have been league champions,” Hermreck said, noting Crest also had a makeup game Thursday against Uniontown, also a loss. “It was tough playing back to back nights having not been able to practice for a week, but everyone was in the same predicament. We just couldn’t get it done.”
Yates Center hosts Pleasanton tonight and visits Humboldt Thursday to wrap up the regular season.
Crest is at Madison Tuesday for its final regular season game, and then opens Class 1A-I substrate play Friday, also at Madison.
THE GIRLS followed a similar pattern.
Yates Center led 31-28 and pulled away down the stretch, out-scoring the Lady Lancers 13-8 in the final frame.
The Wildcats were paced by Callyn Miller, who scored 15, while Morgan Collins and Liberty Cavender had seven apiece. Grace Westerman was next with six, Addison Solander scored four, Molly Proper had three and Madilyn Proper scored two.
Halee Beckmon and Aubree Holloran each scored 11 for Crest, while Vivian Noah scored six. Lindsay Godderz and Anna Hermreck both chipped in with four apiece.
The Lady Lancers are scheduled to play at Lebo Thursday to open substate action.
