YATES CENTER – The Altoona-Midway High School basketball teams will return on Saturday each seeking to find the win column after a pair of losses in second-round action of the Yates Center Wildcat Classic here Thursday.
Cherryvale dominated 72-30 in the boys’ tournament matchup, while the Lady Jets put up a good fight before falling 47-33 to Southern Coffey County.
Altoona-Midway trailed Cherryvale just 12-8 after one period in the boys’ game, but the Chargers piled up 29 points in the second stanza to lead 41-21, then added 24 more points in the third quarter and coasted to victory.
Despite the outcome, Jets head coach Jeff Almond saw some things he liked.
“Although the score may not indicate it, we have seen glimpses of what we can be as a team and it looks pretty good,” Almond said. “We will continue to work hard and improve each week. I am really excited about what this team can be. As the kids buy in more and more to our system we will continue to improve.”
Bennett scorched the nets for 25 points for Marais des Cygnes, while Sawyer and Barnett added 11 and 10, respectively.
The Jets had a very balanced offensive attack, as Caden Carter and Clement Huffman finished with eight points apiece, while the Ashmore brothers, Dawson and Jackson, contributed seven points each.
Huffman led AMHS in rebounds with seven, while Dawson Ashmore pulled down five.
AMHS girls’ coach Ron Rice was pleased with the play of his Lady Jets, despite coming up short 47-33 against Southern Coffey County.
“I was very proud of how we performed tonight,” Rice said. “We continue to get better each game we play.”
The Lady Titans got out to a 17-6 lead after one quarter, but the AMHS girls bounced back and played SCCHS within three points over the final three periods.
Natalie Davis scorched the nets for 16 points to pace the Lady Jets, while Michala Kinzle found the range for eight points. Mariah Stackhouse chipped in four points, while Jasmine Splechter and Caitlin Maxwell rounded out the scoring with three and two, respectively. Davis also pulled down a dozen rebounds for AMHS.
Szambecki finished with 14 points for the Lady Titans, while Harvey finished with 11.
“Offensively, we had our best performance so far this year,” Rice noted. “We still have to work on limiting second chances when we’re on defense, but we’re getting better.”
The Altoona-Midway teams, both 0-3 on the season, will finish up play in the Yates Center Classic on Saturday.