BUFFALO – The varsity basketball teams of Altoona-Midway High School dropped games against Northeast High School of Arma here Monday.
Northeast handily won both ends of the Three Rivers League doubleheader, winning the boys’ contest 59-33 and claiming a 49-5 decision in girls’ action.
On Tuesday, both AMHS squads were scheduled to again play at Milo Peterson Gymnasium when the Marmaton Valley Trojans invade the hardwoods of Milo Peterson Gymnasium. Those games will conclude regular-season play for Altoona-Midway.
The losses were the seventh straight for both AMHS teams. The Jets and Lady Jets are both 5-17 overall and stand 2-10 in TRL action.
AMHS BOYS
Altoona-Midway trailed just 6-4 after five minutes of play Monday. But Northeast closed out the quarter on a 13-2 run, and the Vikings were in control the rest of the contest.
Northeast (10-10, 6-4) exploded for 25 points in the second stanza, expanding its lead to 44-20 at intermission. It was 57-27 entering the final period.
“Northeast is a very good team, with no seniors, so look out for them in the future,” said AMHS head coach Dave Vance. “We actually played a decent game, with what was likely our best shooting percentages of the season.
“Kudos to Kage Beck on his six assists, most of them finding Chance Carter open in the lane,” Vance added. “Despite the score, we played some inspired basketball; we are just not skilled enough to keep up with the team like Northeast at this point.”
Carter had an impressive night for the Jets, finishing with 16 points and seven boards. Carter was 4-8 from inside the arc, hit is only three-point attempt, and went 5-8 from the line.
Beck chipped in nine points to go along with his six assists and tied Carter for the team-high in rebounds with seven.
Chance Mustain found the range for seven points, and Caden Sicka added a charity to round out the Jet scoring. Mustain and Sicka each grabbed five rebounds.
The Vikings placed three players in double figures, led by Mitchell with 14, while Willard tossed in 12 and Stansbury added 10.
The boys also played a two-quarter junior varsity tilt. Northeast prevailed 22-20. Zach Good led the Jet jayvee with nine points, while Sicka netted six, Eliot Ard four, and Mustain one.
AMHS GIRLS
The Altoona-Midway girls – once again playing short-handed – were no match for the talented Lady Vikings as Northeast coasted to a 49-5 win in the earlier contest.
Due to a shortage of players for a variety of reasons, AMHS has had to suit up team manager Ada Hufford for the last two games. Hufford played the entire game Monday, as the Lady Jets had just five players.
“Ada has filled in very admirably, under the circumstances,” said Altoona-Midway coach Jessica Porter. “Obviously, she is overwhelmed out there on the floor, but she went after a couple of loose balls last night and got on the floor.
“The Northeast girls (17-3, 9-1) were big and tall and had their way under the basket,” Porter added. “But nobody fouled out, and we did the best we could. My girls are just hanging in there and trying to have good attitudes despite our low numbers.”
Northeast, winners of their last eight, led 23-2 after one and 41-2 at halftime.
Ava Tindle and Jasa Pankaskie each had buckets for the Lady Jets, while Keyleigh Cline added a free throw.
Lusker and Jackson led the Lady Vikings with 14 and 12, respectively.