Humboldt picks up tough victories

HUMBOLDT — Nobody likes to sweat it on their homecoming night, but the Humboldt Cubs took it in stride Friday night against the Fredonia Yellowjackets.
The Cubs came out on top 62-54 in a hard-fought win that lasted “all four quarters” according to coach David Taylor.
“We weathered the storm at times,” he said. “The kids stuck with it, they were focused focused into it.”
The matchup had an air of urgency from the beginning, with the majority of the scores coming off fast breaks and pull-up jumpers. Kason Siemens kicked things off right for the Cubs, with back-to-back treys, but the Yellowjackets responded with nearly every score, making up the deficit and more with an 18-17 lead going into the second.
The Cubs seemed to get into their comfort zone a bit more for the second as they pulled ahead by as many as eight with key shots from Markis Pulliam, but Fredonia’s Tyler Stephens capitalized on a jumper, steal and a layup to cut Humboldt’s lead to four, 35-13, going into the half.
“It was hard fought for all four quarters,” Taylor said.
He wasn’t joking. The Yellowjackets said “never said die” during the game, consistently responding to the Cubs’ every offensive surge. The home team held on, however, with a 50-43 lead going into the fourth.
Then the fouls started. Taylor said Humboldt shot 18 free throws in the fourth quarter, and made 10 of them.
Kason Siemens led for the Cubs with 12 points — one of four that made it to double digits. Hunter Murrow and Markiz Pulliam each had 11 on the contest, and Caleb Vanatta contributed 10. Murrow had five rebounds, Justin Meins had four assists and Vanatta, Murrow and Meins had two steals apiece.
Stephens had 16 points for Fredonia, many of which came off steals and fast break points. Caleb Couch had 12 points.


ON THURSDAY, Humboldt had another hard-fought victory Thursday, toppling host Erie, 47-37.
The Cubs led 13-7 after one quarter before Erie cut the deficit to 27-24 by halftime. The lead grew 37-32 after three quarters. Humboldt ended the game with a 10-5 run.
Murrow led the Cubs with 10 points, followed by Robbie Sellman with eight and Vanatta with seven. Vanatta also had six rebounds. Sellman and Meins had five boards apiece. Meins also had four steals, Sellman three. Vanatta dished out three assists.
The Cubs, now 15-2 overall, travel to Burlington Tuesday.
Friday
Fredonia 18-13-12-11—54
Humboldt 17-18-15-12—62
Fredonia (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Couch 4/1-1-3-12, Stephens 7-2-5-16, Solander 0/1-0-2-3, Ostrosky 0/2-5-4-11, Reed 0-0-1-0, Hite 1-2-2-4, Moya 2-4-1-8. TOTALS: 14/4-14-18-54.
Humboldt (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Vanatta 2/1-3-3-10, H. Murrow 3-5-2-11, Carpenter 1-0-1-2, Sellman 2-0-2-4, D’Armond 1-1-2-3, Meins 3-3-4-9, Pulliam 4-3-1-11, Siemens 2/2-2-0-12. TOTALS: 18/3-17-15-62.
Thursday
Humboldt (13-14-10-10—37)
Erie (7-17-8-5—27)
Humboldt (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Vanatta 2/1-0-1-7, H. Murrow 4-2-1-10, Carpenter 3-0-0-6, Sellman 1/2-0-1-4, D’Armond 0-4-3-4, Meins 3-0-5-6, Pulliam 0-1-0-1, Siemens 0-4-1-4. TOTALS: 13/3-12-12-47.