Lady Broncos finish fourth at RPAC

After four games in seven days, Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball Head Coach Matt Cox said it was an outstanding week of RPAC basketball.
His team finished fourth, but Cox said that finish  in a 14 team conference is something his team can be proud of.
After wins over Hitchcock County and Dundy County-Stratton in the first two rounds, the Broncos lost to Maywood/Hayes Center (MHC) in the semifinals Friday at Benkelman.
Cox said the first quarter against MHC was one of the most fun he’s ever coached.
“The gym was electric, both teams were pumped, the pace was crazy and the level of play was high,” he said.
Haylee Sandman and Zoey Boos set the tone for the Broncos. The pair combined for WP’s first 10 points. After a three pointer by Alexa Sandman, WP made five free throws and ended the quarter within two points, 18-20.
The Broncos’ shooting cooled in the second quarter when the teams traded jump balls and fouls.
With four minutes left in the half, WP trailed 20-25 after a basket by A. Sandman. MHC pushed its lead to 10 with five straight points. GraCee Goings broke the streak, but with only another basket by the freshman and two free throws from A. Sandman, WP trailed 26-38 at  halftime.
Cox said his team got into foul trouble during the second quarter and was left with a vacuum in the middle of its defense.
The Broncos stuck with MHC in the third quarter.
Boos got a steal and hustled to get the ball to Cali Cox, who’s layup cut the MHC lead to 35-42.
The Wolves had an answer and WP still trailed 38-49 heading into the fourth quarter.
From there, both teams struggled offensively. WP failed to score over the game’s final eight minutes, but, with the exception of a three pointer at the buzzer, held MHC to four points in the 38-58 loss.
“We couldn’t find a way to get a basket to go down in the fourth quarter,” Cox said.
But he said he loved the way the Broncos played, especially defense.
“It just came down to missed shots that we had been making,” Cox said.
 Out of the seven Broncos who scored, H. Sandman was the only one in double figures, scoring 12 points.
Jaycee Widener carried the load for MHC, finishing with 30 points.
The loss put WP in the consolation game against Cambridge on the Trojans’ home court. Cox said his team knew it’d be a tough match up.
The Broncos dug themselves into a hole early. WP trailed 4-10 after baskets by C. Cox and H. Sandman. C. Cox scored once more, leaving the Broncos trailing 6-14 at the end of the first quarter.
The tables turned in the second quarter. Two baskets by P. Cox cut the deficit to 10-14.
 Goings responded to Trojan free throws with a basket and Boos added three free throws after being fouled while shooting a trey.
Over the half’s final two minutes WP made three free throws to close the gap to 18-20 at halftime.
Two free throws from H. Sandman and a conventional three point play by P. Cox gave WP a 23-22 lead early in the second half.
Cambridge scored five straight points, but a C. Cox three pointer kept WP within one point.
WP finished the quarter trailing by one point, 30-31, after two free throws by P. Cox and a field goal from H. Sandman.
Cambridge extended its lead to four points before a C. Cox layup.
In the end, the game came down to free throws.
Cambridge made 15 of its 21 fourth quarter points from the charity stripe. WP totaled 12 points in the quarter and lost the contest 42-52.
Cambridge made 21 of 33 free throws in the game. WP made 14 of 24.
P. Cox led the Broncos with 12 points. H. Sandman added 11 points.
Looking back on the week, Cox said his team’s defense and transition were on point, and the Broncos battled every possession.
“I was proud of the way we played, it was just an unfortunate week to go cold from the outside,” Cox said.

To read more go to: https://etypeservices.com/Imperial%20RepublicanID359/