Humboldt Middle School competes on road

FREDONIA — Humboldt Middle School’s basketball teams had an up and down night against Fredonia on Thursday. The boys were swept, losing 33-19 in the A game and 16-15 in the B game. The Lady Cubs swept Fredonia, winning 54-17 in the A game and 10-2 in a two-quarter B game.

In the boys A game, Humboldt came out flat, struggling with Fredonia’s size early. The Yellow Jackets frustrated the Cubs into an early 9-5 hole. That hole was made worse by the Cubs’ offensive woes. Humboldt was held to five points in the second while the Yellow Jacket offense heated up, scoring in double digits. Fredonia also held Humboldt’s Mason Sterling, who has been on fire, on a tight leash.

Fredonia led 21-9 at the half.

The second half was better for the Cubs, although the damage had been done. The Cubs had their best quarter in the third, scoring six points, but the Cub defense couldn’t hold Fredonia back, as they scored eight. 

The fourth was even, with both teams scoring four. While Humboldt tried to mount a charge, Fredonia’s lead was too much.

Sterling led the way with six points and had 10 rebounds. Collin Cook also had six points. Layne Ellison had four points. Taner King scored three.

The boys B game was a tighter contest, with both teams feeling each other out early. Due to low numbers, the two teams only played one half.

If Humboldt was judging by the first quarter, they would have thought a win was in store, as the Cubs led 13-9 after the first.

But Fredonia had other ideas, holding Humboldt to just two points the rest of the way. While the Yellow Jacket defense stepped up, their offense also came to life, breaking out for seven points to take the lead midway through the quarter.

Humboldt was limited on offense. Only three players scored for the Cubs, with none scoring more than six points. Humboldt failed to get the bench involved and didn’t rebound as well as the Cubs have been accustomed to this season.

King scored six points. Kreed Jones scored five. Thatcher Mueller scored four.

The girls swept Fredonia thanks to the hot hands of Skylar Hottenstein who scored 19 points. Anapaula Franco joined Hottenstein in the double-digit club with 10. Rylee Wools had seven. Ricklyn Hillmon had six. Josey Ellis and Lakyn Meadows both chipped in four. Jo Ellison scored two.

Like the boys, the Lady Cubs B team also had a two-quarter game. And like the A game, the Lady Cubs dominated.

Only three players scored for the Lady Cubs. Harlowe Rush led the way with six points. Kinley Hart had three. Leah Carman had one.

Humboldt is at a tournament Saturday in Iola.