Wauneta-Palisade ties up RPAC West second seed

    The Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball team ran its record to 10-4 with weekend wins over Perkins County and Garden County.
    WP hosted the shorthanded Plainsmen Friday night.
    WP Head Coach Matt Cox said Perkins County’s triangle and two defense gave the Broncos fits early on.
    The Broncos struggled to get shots to fall and racked up rebounds early in the game. Despite those efforts WP, trailed 16-19 at the end of the first quarter.
    As its defense stepped up in the second quarter, WP was able to close the gap and trailed by one point at halftime, 18-19.
    The Broncos took control of the game in the third quarter, limiting PCS to two players scoring. WP trailed by one, 37-38, with just over a minute left in the third quarter. The Broncos used a 6-0 run to take control of the game heading into the final quarter.
    The Broncos weren’t able to shake PCS in the fourth quarter and found themselves in a three point game as time ran down. WP closed out the game on an 8-3 run to seal the 61-53 win.
    Peyton Cox led WP with 29 points and added 10 rebounds. Alexa Sandman also finished in double figures, totaling 10 points.
    Chloe Stehno grabbed 15 rebounds and scored nine points.
    The Broncos set the tone early the following night at Garden County, making five first quarter three pointers. WP’s defense was sound also, helping the Broncos to a 23-8 lead.
    Though the Eagles found some offensive life in the second quarter WP took a 38-22 advantage to the locker room at the half.
    The Broncos had a slight hiccup offensively in the third quarter, only making four field goals, but WP put the pedal down again in the fourth quarter and closed the game on a 19-8 run to win 71-38.
    GraCee Goings finished with 21 points in the game. Sandman was on Goings’ heels with 19 points. Stehno added 10 points and eight rebounds. P. Cox pulled down 10 rebounds.
    “We went on the road and had a really great night from behind the three-point line, I hope that sparks some confidence going into conference tournament next week,” Cox said.
Up next
    The Broncos, will play at 6-6 Paxton Thursday before the RPAC tournament kicks of with “Six-Game Saturday” in Hayes Center.
    Cox said he likes how his team is playing.
    “We are playing really good basketball right now, but the thing that worries me is we’re still a little streaky when it comes to shooting,” he said, adding he loves where the Broncos are at defensively.
    Cox said his team is gaining experience and the bench is getting deeper.
    “We now have three that can come off the bench and give minutes and that is a pretty good position to be in for this time of the year,” Cox said.
    As the second seed, WP will play seventh seeded Dundy County-Stratton (0-14). Tip off is set for 10 a.m. MT.
    WP will host second round games Monday. Maywood/Hayes Center, the top seed, will play the winner Saturday’s Hitchcock County/Paxton game.
    Win or lose, WP will play either Wallace or Maxwell. The losers’ game will be at 3:15 p.m. MT and the winners’ game will be at 6:45 p.m. MT.
    Tournament games will continue Jan. 27 in Maxwell and the championship and consolation games will be played Jan. 29.