Scott City and Hugoton split Friday doubleheader

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Two GWAC opponents met up on Friday night at the Scott Community Events Center, as the Beavers played host to the Hugoton Eagles in what is the first of at least two meetings in a 17-day span. Playing in front of a good high school atmosphere, the teams would split the doubleheader, as Hugoton picked up a 51-38 win in the girls game, while the Scott City boys won a 60-59 thriller.

Hugoton Girls 51, Scott City 38
The Lady Beavers entered Friday’s contest against the No. 1 ranked team in Class 3A shorthanded, as senior guard Amber Latta was out, due to an injury in Tuesday’s game at Goodland. That didn’t slow down the efforts of the Lady Beavers. Scott City stood toe-to-toe with Hugoton for a majority of the game. After an 11 all tie after the opening frame, the Lady Beavers scored six of the first eight points of the second quarter to build a 17-13 lead with 4:52 left before the break. The Lady Eagles responded with seven straight to lead 20-17 at the 2:32 mark of the second frame. However, Scott City would close the half with six of the final eight points to lead 23-22 at recess. Hugoton would take the lead in the first 90 seconds of the second half and never looked back. Their 10-1 run put them up eight late in the third quarter, and eventually grew their lead to nine heading into the fourth quarter at 35-26. The Lady Beavers struggled in the second half scoring, as they went 10:17 without a field goal. Hugoton built their largest lead to 44-30 with 3:29 left. Scott City showed one final push, pulling to within 44-36 at the 2:18 mark of the fourth quarter. It would be the Lady Eagles closing with seven of the final nine points to secure the win at 51-38.

Mikyn Hamlin led the way with 22 points, while Summya Adigun added 12, as Hugoton has won five straight. Scott City was led by Erika Felker’s 17 points and Brooke Strine added 12. The Lady Beavers dropped their second straight game, and their losses have come to ranked teams in Class 3A. 

With the win, Hugoton improves to 25-12 in the series since 1989, and have now won four straight in the series, including two in a row at Scott City.

Hugoton  11 11 13 16-51
Scott City 11 12   3 12-38

Hugoton (5-1): Kelley 1 0-0 2; Salazar 1 0-0 2; Slocum 0 2-2 2; Vos 1 5-6 7; Adigun 5 0-0 12; Haar 2 0-0 4; Hamlin 10 0-1 22; Team: 20 7-9 51
Scott City (5-3): Stevens 0 0-0 0; Rumford 3 1-2 7; Strine 5 2-4 12; Ford 0 0-0 0; Felker 6 2-3 17; Cupp 0 2-2 2; Cramer 0 0-0 0; Patton 0 0-0 0; Team: 14 7-11 38

Three-Pointers: Hugoton 4 (Adigun 2, Hamlin 2), Scott City 3 (Felker 3); Turnovers: Hugoton 17, Scott City 24; Rebounds: Hugoton 27, Scott City 18; Fouls: Hugoton 12, Scott City 13; Fouled Out: Scott City (Rumford, Patton).

Coach Amy Felker Postgame

Scott City Boys 60, Hugoton 59
Entering Friday night, Scott City had not defeated Hugoton on their home court since 2015. In the six straight wins for Hugoton on the road in the series, only one game was decided by more than four points. This one would come down to the very end. Playing without guard Dylan Metzger, who is out indefinitely due to an injury, the Beavers fought tooth and nail with Hugoton throughout the night. Scott City alum Trey O’Neil had his Eagle squad firing on all cylinders early, especially from three-point range. The Eagles turned a 6-4 deficit into a 16-12 lead after the first quarter. They would grow their lead to 23-14 with 5:25 remaining before the break. Both teams would never come close to that margin the rest of the night. The Beavers closed out the half on a 14-2 run to lead 28-25 at the break. Their led by five early in the third, before Hugoton scored 11 unanswered to take a 36-30 lead midway through the third period. Scott City chipped away, before the Eagles took a 45-42 lead into the final quarter. The Beavers scored their first six points of the final stanza from the free throw line to lead 48-45 with 5:25 left. That’s when the quarter would go back and forth. Both teams would trade the lead five times and tie twice in the final eight minutes of play. Overall, there were 10 lead changes and six ties. Hugoton took a 54-51 lead with three minutes left, before Scott City responded with an 8-2 run to lead 59-56 with 1:12 left. The Eagles got a three pointer to tie the game with 56.7 seconds left at 59 on a Ryle Riddlesperger three, his sixth of the game. Scott City would hang on to the ball for the next 48 seconds, and would be fouled with 11.7 seconds left. After missing the first, Lawson Bailey drilled the second free throw giving the Beavers a 60-59 lead. The Eagles had one final chance, but a three-point shot missed as time expired, giving Scott City the 60-59 win. 

Gus Hawkins led the Beavers with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Ronnie Weathers finished with 13 points and seven rebounds and Austin Thon had 12 points to lead Scott City, who has now won two straight. Hugoton was led by Carson Bennett’s 28 points and Ryle Riddlesperger added 18. 

With the win, Scott City not only snapped a six-game skid at home to Hugoton, but also broke a nine-game losing streak to the Eagles. Their last win in the series came in 2017 in a 61-60 overtime win at Hugoton. The Beavers lead the series 19-17 since 1989. 

Hugoton  16   9 20 14-59
Scott City 12 16 14 18-60

Hugoton (3-3): Lewis 1 0-0 3; Riddlesbperger 6 0-0 18; Bennett 10 3-4 28; Martin 1 0-0 2; Gaskill 1 0-2 2; Mecklenberg 0 0-0 0; Williams 3 0-0 6; Harris 0 0-0 0; Team: 22 3-6 59
Scott City (4-4): Thomas 0 0-0 0; Rodriguez 0 0-0 0; Thon 3 5-7 12; Hawkins 5 4-7 15; Bailey 3 3-4 9; Weathers 5 3-5 13; Tarango 2 0-0 5; Gooden 3 0-0 6; Team: 21 15-23 60

Three-Pointers: Hugoton 12 (Riddlesberger 6, Bennett 5, Lewis 1), Scott City 3 (Thon 1, Hawkins 1, Tarango 1); Turnovers: Hugoton 13, Scott City 11; Rebounds: Hugoton 15, Scott City 27; Fouls: Hugoton 21, Scott City 10; Fouled Out: Hugoton (Gaskill, Mecklenberg).

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame

Scott City will travel to Holcomb next Friday before heading to the Sterling Invitational, while Hugoton hosts Goodland next Friday, and will also be in the Sterling Invitational.