Wauneta-Palisade falls to ranked DCS

    The Wauneta-Palisade boys’ basketball team dropped their final game before Christmas 22-62 to Class D1 #6 Dundy County Stratton Dec. 20.
     Ashton Wheeler carried the offensive load for WP in the first quarter, scoring all seven of the Broncos’ points.
    Entering the second quarter trailing 14-7, WP got to within  five points before the Tigers pulled away. Jacksen Littrell hit a three pointer and Matthew Blackman and Wheeler made two point buckets before halftime.
    Wheeler scored all three of WP’s third quarter point and two of the Broncos’ five points in the fourth quarter.
    Wheeler finished the game with 14 points in the 22-62 loss.
    WP Head Coach Joseph Frecks said he and assistant coach John Kershaw were very proud of the effort his team gave the entire game and especially on the defensive end.  
    “DCS is a very good team and their athleticism kept us from getting much going on offense or getting good shots,” Frecks said.
    Frecks noted DCS used two runs where it really hurt WP in the press and transition.
    Other than those runs, Frecks felt like the Broncos played well and limited what DCS could do on offense.
    WP struggled to control the Tigers in the paint where the Broncos were outscored 8-40.
Up next
    WP will play at 7:15 p.m. CT both nights of this year’s Arapahoe Holiday Tournament.
    The Broncos will play Arapahoe (3-5) Thursday, then either Blue Hill (2-3) or Class D1 #4 North Platte St. Pat’s (7-1) Friday.
    Frecks said the tournament will be a very competitive tournament with the bigger Class D1 schools.