Scott City splits with Hoisington on opening night

Hoisington, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Game one’s can always be difficult with what to expect, especially when you don’t know what to expect from the oppenent. Scott City played in Hoisington for the first time in 20 years on Friday night, as they face their old MSAA foe in the Cardinals. The girls game would be a high-scoring affair, as Hoisington would outlast Scott City 76-65, while the Beaver boys held off a run by the Cardinals to win 50-38.

Hoisington Girls 76, Scott City 65
It’s safe to say both sides didn’t expect this much scoring in the first game of the year. Both teams lost one starter from last year’s squads, in which the Lady Beavers won 40-22. Friday’s game would be much different. Hoisington would score six straight after trailing 7-6 in the first quarter and never look back. They closed out the final two minutes on a 10-3 run to lead 24-15 after the first quarter. The Lady Cardinals built their lead to 14 points at 33-19 with 4:34 left before the break, when Scott City (0-1) scored six straight to make it 33-25 with 3:33 left before halftime. The the teams would trade baskets, as Hoisington shot 68% to lead 43-32 at the break, including 7-13 on three’s. In the second half, the Lady  Beavers would be down 14 early in the third, before they made their run. A 13-3 run over a four-minute stretch got them to within 55-53 with 39 seconds left in the third quarter. However, the Lady Cardinals found a way to extend the lead to six early in the fourth. Scott City got to wihtin 59-56 with :11 left. That would be the closest they got the rest of the night. With under a minute, the Lady Beavers got it to 70-65, but Hoisington (1-0) hit six free throws down the stretch to win 76-65. 

Hoisington was led by Jordyn Boxberger wiht 16 points, while Ellie Crawford and Kylee Hahn each had 14 points, and Mallory Mooney and Mollie Steiner, who debuted with Hoisington after transferring from Central Plains, had 10 points apiece. They were 14-22 at the foul line and had 5 turnovers. Scott City got a career-high 15 points apiece from Kendall Gentry and Megan Trout, and Erika Felker also had 15 points. Avery Lewis had 13 points for the Lady Beavers, who were 15-19 at the free throw line and had 18 turnovers. 

Scott City leads the series 12-6 despite the loss, as they dropped their first season opener since 2015. Hoisington won their first game against the Lady Beavers since December of 2003.

Coach Amy Felker Postgame

Scott City Boys 50, Hoisington 38
Scott City led wire-to-wire, as they would build their lead, and after a Cardinal rally, pulled away late. The Beavers took an 11-10 lead heading into the second quarter. In the second frame, Scott City (1-0) started with a 10-0 run, and outscored Hoisington 16-5 to lead 27-15 at the break. They led by as many as 14 in the second stanza, and built a 37-19 lead with 3:14 left in the third quarter. The Cardinals owuld mount a rally, and pull to within 39-25 heading into the fourth quarter. Hoisington (0-1) buried three consecutive triples to open the final period to get to within 39-34 wiht 5:27 left. Scott City was able to compose themself, and end the final five minutes with an 11-4 run to take a 50-38 win. 

Sage Stoecklein would demolish his previous career high from last year at two points, with a game-high 15 points, while Jackson Rumford added 13 points for the Beavers. Scott City won their 10th consecutive season-opener, and shot 10-20 at the line, and committed 20 turnovers. Hoisington got a career-high 13 points from Mason Martin and 10 from Tony Moore. The Cardinals had 27 turnovers and were 3-7 from the free throw line. 

With the win, Scott City leads the series 15-4, and have won seven straight in the series. 

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame

Scott City will host all three of their opponents in the Clarion Inn Roundball Classic, beginning on Thursday with Lamar. They’ll face Coronado on Friday and LaJunta on Saturday. Hoisington opens up play in the Keady Classic in Larned against South Central on Monday.