WP girls win RPAC opener against Hitchcock County

The Wauneta-Palisade girls’ basketball team had to wait a little longer for its second round RPAC tournament game after weather delayed the tournament.
WP’s Monday night RPAC  game against Dundy County-Stratton was moved to Tuesday. The teams have split their match ups this season.
The Broncos came out on fire, taking a 23-12 lead in the first quarter.
With Haylee Sandman on the bench in second quarter, DCS closed the gap. WP only led 29-25 at halftime.
The game stayed close in the third quarter. DCS cut the lead to 29-27 then 37-35, but WP led 39-36 going into the final stanza.
The Broncos found their first quarter mojo again. After a DCS three pointer cut WP’s lead to 45-44, the Broncos scored 10 straight points. With WP leading 60-50 and one minute left, the game got interesting.
The teams traded free throws to bring the score to 62-55. A desperation three fell for DCS with five seconds left and a WP foul sent the Tigers to the line with 0.5 left.
DCS missed the first free throw and time ran out, give WP the 62-58 win.
The Broncos will play Maywood/Hayes Center Thursday at 6:45 p.m. in Benkelman for a trip to Saturday’s championship game.
WP opened the tournament with a win over 1-13 Hitchcock County.
Broncos’ Head Coach Matt Cox said his team was pretty flat against the Falcons.
“I know we have big goals set this week but defensively we were a half step off all the time, we played well enough to stay ahead, but I’m always chasing excellence,” Cox said.
Alexa Sandman started and finished WP’s scoring in the first quarter with three pointers. In between, GraCee Goings and Haylee Sandman each scored three points. Payton Yearous and Peyton Cox also scored to help WP to a 17-6 first quarter lead.
The Broncos continued to find a variety of scoring options. Six WP players scored in the second quarter with H. Sandman and Cali Cox making three pointers to end the half.
WP continued to pull away in the second half, allowing only two Falcons to score.
Cox emptied his bench in the fourth quarter of the 59-35 win.
“A key to conference week is to stay really sharp, but if you’re blessed with a deep bench like we are, we have to rotate players and try to stay fresh as well,” Cox said, adding it can be a long week, especially with some weather and possibly playing on short rest.
“We’re happy to win in round one and advance,” Cox said.
Five players finished with at least eight points for WP. H. Sandman scored 13 and grabbed 11 rebounds. P. Cox was on her heels with 12 points plus 14 rebounds.
C. Cox also finished in double figures with 10 points. A. Sandman scored nine points and Goings eight.
C. Cox had five assists, while Zoey Boos and H. Sandman each had five steals.
WP made 11-23 free throws in the game while only allowing the Falcons four from the line.

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