CHETOPA - Altoona-Midway Middle School split two “A” games with the Chetopa Indians here Monday, with the Lady Jets notching an easy win but the AMMS boys coming up just short in an exciting nightcap.
In the girls’ matchup, Altoona-Midway held just a 10-5 lead at halftime, but the Lady Jets outscored Chetopa 10-2 in the third period to go up 20-7, then added a 9-4 advantage in the final quarter to post a 29-11 victory.
“The girls played hard the entire game, but we really picked it up in the third and fourth quarters and were able to put a few more points on the board,” said AMMS Girls Coach Kate Walker. “They were moving their feet and really wanting the ball.”
Partial individual results reported to the media had Bailey Graham leading the Jets with four points, Jasmine Splechter netting three, and Summer Tarlton and Mariah Stackhouse adding two apiece.
In an exciting boys’ “A” game, Chetopa survived with a 30-26 victory.
The Jets trailed by 4-5 points most of the way, but rallied in the fourth quarter and a Jackson Ashmore free throw knotted the score at 25-all. But Ashmore fouled out immediately after that and the Indians were able to squeeze out the win.
“We fought the entire way. I was proud of the boys,” said AMMS Boys Coach Marci Henderson. “On a side note to the game, the lights went out in the gym in the first quarter and we had to wait 10 minutes for them to come back on.”
Dalton Smith poured in 12 points for the Jets while Ashmore added eight. Smith and Andy Tiger pulled down six rebounds apiece.
Altoona-Midway and Chetopa also played a pair of “B” games. Chetopa B boys won 12-8. Ashton Hogue and Jacob Meigs scored three points each for AMMS. The Girls “B” contest ended 4-4. Emma Martin and Ella French each had a basket for the Lady Jets.
AMMS returns home to host Thayer on Monday, Dec. 11.