ERIE — For the second game in a row, the Cubs got a big spark from an unlikely source to turn a close game into a rout and get one game closer to the state tournament.
Sophomore Morgan Mauk is starting to become a less surprising source, however, as she has now been that catalyst for her team twice in a row. On Thursday, it was in a 60-34 victory over Jayhawk Linn.
Humboldt senior Makaylah McCall had just scored to draw the Cubs even with the Jayhawks at 6-6 in the substate semifinals, when Humboldt coach Aubrey Jones turned to Mauk to try and give her team some life.
The shortest player on the Cubs’ roster did just that as she cut down to the right block to receive a pass and posted up before scoring through contact and converting an “and-one” play. From there the Cubs never looked back.
A series of steals and fastbreak buckets turned McCall and Mauk’s baskets into the beginning of a 14-0 run that saw the lead grow to 18-6.
Midway through the second quarter, the Jayhawks came back to within 23-18, in large part due to 10 points by R.J. Beckmon.
Again though, Jones inserted Mauk and that translated into good things for the Cubs, who went on 13-0 run to turn the five-point lead into a 26-18 margin.
That lead was 38-20 at halftime after McCall hit a buzzer-beater to send the teams into the locker room.
The lead only continued to grow in the second half as the Cubs cruised to the 26-point victory.
Having McCall get herself established with a big first half is a big development for the Cubs. McCall — an all-state selection last year — has been up and down this season, but with 10 first-half points and 12 for the game, she appears to be clicking heading into the biggest game of the Cubs’ season so far.
The Cubs’ other seniors are also playing well with Annalise Whitcomb leading the team with 15 points and Tilar Wells netting nine.
Junior Lizzie Myers was the only other Cub in double figures with 10. Sophomore Aricah McCall had seven.
UP NEXT
It will be a familiar opponent for the Cubs in today’s substate championship at 7 p.m.
The Cubs will face host-school Erie as the seeds held true to form and the top-seeded Cubs get the two-seed.
