HUMBOLDT — Humboldt High’s girls hung with Neodesha here Friday night for a half, but then the Bluestreaks took advantage of a decided height advantage en route to a 47-34 victory.
Megan Littau, a 6-foot senior, and Kelsey Potter, a 5-foot-6 junior, were the difference makers for Neodesha.
They combined for 12 points in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the second half, which propelled the visitors to a 29-19 lead.
Sophomore Tilar Wells launched a three-pointer 30 seconds later that hit nothing but dry goods and pulled the struggling Lady Cubs back to a seven-point deficit, at 29-22. Giving Cub faithful hope of recovery, Carson Menzie popped in a two-pointer just after the fourth period started to cut Neodesha’s margin to five, 31-26.
But that was as close as the Black and Orange could get the rest of the game.
When Potter swished a trey from the top of the key with 4:55 to play, for a 40-26 lead, the game was as good as over.
“We were a little on the short side,” observed Sherri Nelson, Humboldt’s coach, but she refrained from pinning the loss, the Cubs’ fourth in five games this season, on size differential.
Humboldt’s shooting at the stripe — 2 of 10 the first two periods — kept the Cubs from taking advantage of some cold shooting on Neodesha’s part in the first half. Had the Cubs found the range in that phase of the game, they might have had the upper hand going to the second half and that could have given them enough momentum to alter the outcome.
Neodesha was content to fire away from long to middle range in the first half, not seeming to grasp the value of concentrating on its inside offensive game.
That changed after half-time analysis.
The Cubs also ran into some difficulties in handling the ball, but not much more than Neodesha. At times several consecutive journeys the length of the court, by both teams, failed to produce a shot.
Nelson lamented defensive lapses as a failing for Humboldt and allowed “we have to get better at defense over the (holiday) break.”
Three sophomores led the Cubs’ scoring: Wells topped the Humboldt effort with 9 points, all coming on connections from outside the arch; Makaylah McCall and Annalise Whitcomb each had five points. Littau led Neodesha with 16, all coming with a foot or three of the basket, while Potter popped in 15.
The Cubs next outing will be Jan. 7 at home against Marmaton Valley.
Neodesha 8-9-14-16 – 47
Humboldt 8-6-10-10 – 34
Neodesha (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP) — Dean 5/0-0-0-10; Wodlum 0/0-1-2-1; Johnson 0/0-0-2-0; Arnold 0/0-0-1-0; Noss 1/0-0-2-3; Lamendola 0/0-0-1-0; Potter 4/1-4-0-15; Wittum 1/0-0-0-2; Littau 8/0-0-3-16. Totals: 19/1-6-9-47.
Humboldt (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP) —Wells 0/3-0-2-9; McCall 2/0-1-1-5; Riebel 1/0-1-2-3; Hudlin 2/0-0-4-4; English 0/0-0-1-0; Whitcomb 0/1-2-0-5; Wilson 0/1-1-2-4; Menzie 2/0-0-2-4; Morris 0/0-0-1-0. Totals: 7/5-5-15-34.
Bluestreaks top Humboldt
