Broncos fall to NPSP, Blue Hill

    The Wauneta-Palisade boys’ basketball team came out on the short end of its games at the Arapahoe Holiday Tourney.
    With first round games moved from Thursday to Friday, Head Coach Joseph Frecks said the Broncos came out flat.
    “Arapahoe came out and shot really well in their home gym. Unfortunately we came out a little flat after the week off and were never able to get into a rhythm in the game,” Frecks said.
    Grayden Sutherland and Ashton Wheeler scored WP’s first eight points. The Broncos settled in during the second quarter. Wheeler made two 3s and Matthew Blackman added another to give WP its best offensive quarter of the game.
    “We did settle in a little bit after about the middle of the 2nd quarter and played with good effort, but never really did play up to our standard or expected level,” Frecks said.
    The Broncos trailed 22-47 at halftime.
    The second half was low scoring on both sides. Wheeler led the Broncos with 11 points in the 31-66 loss.
    Sutherland and Nathan Blackman suffered what are hopefully short term injuries against the Warriors, Frecks said.
     “Hopefully they will both be able to be back soon,” he added.
    Blue Hill, which lost to Class D1 #4 North Platte St. Pat’s 35-64, awaited WP in the consolation game.
    Frecks said the Bobcats are a solid team with big athletes, adding Krae Ockinga is an outstanding basketball player.  
    Ockinga was able to hit some very deep outside shots early and that put the Broncos in a hole, Frecks said.
    WP trailed 2-25 at the end of the first quarter and would lose the game 14-48.
    Frecks saw improvement from the Arapahoe game.
    “Our effort defensively was much improved and even though the score may not show it, we played much closer to our potential and our level of expectation,” Frecks said.
    Duvel and Jutten each pulled down seven rebounds. Wheeler scored six points for the Broncos.
    “I was very proud of the boys for their effort and response to adversity following the Arapahoe game and during the Blue Hill game.,” Frecks said.
Up next
    WP has a pair of rematches coming up, starting with Hitchcock County (5-2) Friday.
    Saturday the Broncos will travel to Southwest (3-5).
    “We played both of these teams during the Cattle Trail a month ago and lost. I am excited to gauge our improvement against them this weekend. We will look to play strong defense, rebound, and turn the ball over less and be more efficient offensively,” Frecks said.