YATES CENTER — A slow start proved too burdensome for Yates Center High to overcome Monday.
The Wildcats trailed 13-4 and 27-7 to South Haven in the opening round of the Wildcat Preseason Invitational.
But the subsequent 51-22 defeat showed plenty of silver linings, head coach Lane Huffman noted.
“We did lose the game, but I saw some things come together on the defensive side of the ball,” he said. “We flew around the court and battled, I can’t ask for anything more. It’s on me to help solve our offensive struggles.”
Yates Center stayed even with South Haven through the third quarter, trailing 35-18 after three.
“We turned the ball over too many times, and didn’t get ourselves great looks at the basket,” Huffman said.
Monday also saw Huffman insert freshmen Jeremiah Jones and Evan McVey into the playing rotation, giving him eight players with extensive minutes.
“We will keep practicing and hopefully get a few more guys into the rotation and give us good minutes,” he said.
Devereaux Sarchet led Yates Center with 10 points, while Kaiden Rutherford and Jarrett Birk both had four. Garrett Audiss and Tristan Ballin notched two points each.
Yates Center (0-2) hosts Bluestem Thursday in the tournament’s second round.
