The Yates Center Wildcats are on a bit of a hot streak heading into their mid-season tournament after defeating Oswego 62-51 Friday.
With multiple Three Rivers League teams coming to Yates Center this week for the mid-season tournament, the Wildcats are 5-5 going into the final leg of the regular season.
“This is the second game in a row that we found ourselves in a hole, and battled to a win,” Yates Center coach Lane Huffman said. “If we can match a good start with a consistent four-quarter effort, this team will keep winning games.”
Sophomore guard Ben Cook had a team-leading 16 points, and Jeremiah Jones pulled down his second double-double since the New Year with 11 points to match his 10 rebounds.
“Our guards did a great job finding him on slips to the basket,” Coach Huffman said. “We’ve played a very unselfish brand of basketball lately and it’s turning into wins.”
Junior guard Colton Burkholder had 7 points, followed by sophomore guard Gavin Busteed with 6 points, then sophomore forward Jacob Smoot and junior guard Evan McVey with 4 points each.
The Wildcats will host Marmaton Valley Tuesday in the YCHS Mid-Season Tournament opener at 5:30 p.m.
Girls come up short against Oswego
The Yates Center Wildcats hope to bounce back Tuesday against Marmaton Valley after falling to Three Rivers League rival Oswego Friday 62-35.
The Wildcats’ strong, 16-point second quarter was sandwiched between a 6-point first quarter and a 5 point third to leave Yates Center playing catch-up throughout the fourth quarter.
Junior forward Jayda Rice had a breakout performance with 10 points, followed by junior guard Cayten Cummings with 7 points.
The Wildcats, 4-6, face the Marmaton Valley girls in the 4 p.m. opener of the first round of action in Tuesday’s YCHS Mid-Season Tournament.
