Broncos look to lock down subdistrict’s top seed

    Plenty of work remains ahead for the Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball team. The Broncos currently sit at No. 16 in the Class D2 point standings and lead the teams in their subdistrict.
    But a 43-47 loss last week at Medicine Valley (9-9), currently No. 2 in the subdistrict, was the first for Wauneta-Palisade against Class D2 opponents.
    The Broncos went to work in the paint against the Raiders Friday. Peyton Cox scored 14 of WP’s 18 points in the first quarter. The Broncos led 18-12 going into the second quarter, but found its offense held to baskets by Chloe Stehno, GraCee Goings and Izzy Stehno over the eight-minute span.
    Still, the Broncos led 24-22 at halftime and 35-32 at the end of the third quarter. Goings and Halle Bardsley nailed 3s to keep WP in control.
    WP held a 39-34 lead with seven minutes remaining in the game, but soon found itself tied at 39-39 with just under six minutes to go. Medicine Valley took a four-point lead with 2:30 left in the game as the Broncos struggled to find the bottom of the net.
    A three-pointer by Goings pulled Wauneta-Palisade to within two points, 43-45, with 52.6 seconds left, but the Broncos couldn’t get over the hump to take the win.
    After 14 points in the first quarter, P. Cox finished the game with 17 points to lead WP.
    WP set the tone the following night at home against Sutherland (4-13) with a dominant first half.
    P. Cox was once again a mainstay in the middle, scoring 18 points in the first half, but the Broncos also got six points from Peyton Vrbas to go with points from C. Stehno, Goings and Cali Cox.
    Although the Broncos were outscored 9-11 in the third quarter, Wauneta-Palisade got 3s by C. Cox and Maggie DeWester to round out the 65-39 win.
    P. Cox scored 30 points on the night, including hitting 7-9 from the charity stripe, and pulled down double digit rebounds once again.
    C. Stehno also finished in double figures with 13 points.
Up next
    WP still has two regular season games remaining against very different teams, at Cheylin, Kansas (1-13) Thursday and at home Friday against Maywood/Hayes Center (19-1).
    Medicine Valley has Maxwell (2-17) and Brady (3-16) remaining.
    The subdistrict tournament begins with a bunny bracket game Monday, then continues Tuesday and Thursday.