Similar scenario, same results; Scott City girls, Ulysses boys hang on for wins

Ulysses, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–In a way the second meetings between Scott City and Ulysses had similar feels. The January games would see the Lady Beavers would get up and lead throughout, only to hang on for the win, and the Tiger boys would survive every Scott City rally. Fast forward to Friday night. While it seemed to be the same in the doubleheader, the way the two teams that wound would be slightly different in the end. Scott City’s girls would hold off a late surge by the Lady Tigers to pick up the 46-40 win, while the Ulysses boys pulled away late for a 64-56 victory over the Beavers.

Girls
Despite trailing 2-0 and 5-2 early, Scott City got off to a good start, using a 10-0 run midway through the first quarter, and took a 16-9 lead into the second quarter. After Ulysses rallied to pull to within 16-14 with 5:11 remaining before half, the Lady Beavers went on a 9-2 run to lead by nine at 25-16 with 1:37 left before the break. Both teams exchanges a pair of free throws, as Scott City led 27-18 at the half. The Lady Tigers went on a 6-2 run in the first half of the third quarter to get to within 29-24. Scott City (9-8, 5-2 GWAC) closed out the third period on an 8-0 run to take a 37-24 lead after three quarters. Battling foul trouble with Bailey Latta and Macie Price with four fouls, the Lady Beavers maintained a double digit lead for a while. Ulysses (10-7, 4-3) would make a surge in the fourth quarter. They would go on a 14-5 run to get to within 42-38 wiht 2:12 remaining. Scott City nailed four of their final six free throws down the stretch, and preserved the road win, their third in GWAC play. Six of the seven Lady Beavers scored at least five points, led by Emily Smith with 11 points off the bench. Scott City was 7-11 at the foul line in the final quarter, and finished 11-19 for the game. Ulysses got 19 points from Gina Ballesteros, as the Lady Tigers were 10-20 from the charity line. With the win, Scott City has now won four straight in the series over Ulysses, the longest stretch since winning four straight from February, 2010-January, 2012. The fifth win in GWAC play for the Lady Beavers are the most in the league in their seven season, and the most in conference play since the 2008-09 season, when they went 6-2 in the MSAA.

Coach Sarah McCormick Postgame

Boys
Two teams entered Friday’s games going in a different direction for the most part, although Ulysses snapped a seven-game losing skid Tuesday night at Dodge City. The game saw two lead changes and four ties, all coming in the first eight minutes of play, as the teams were tied at eight after the first quarter. Ulysses scored the first six points of the second quarter, and never trailed. for a majority of the second and third quarters, everytime Scott City (10-7, 3-4 GWAC) scored, the Tigers answered, with most of their points coming off a second chance opportunity or a turnover. Coupled with their hot shooting, especially from behind the three-point arc, Ulysses took a 30-21 halftime lead. Their last two points of the half were free throws, when a foul was called on Scott City when it appeared the foul occurred after the horn sounded. The Tigers extended their lead out to 11 after three quarters, after the Beavers pulled to within 41-34 with 2:54 remaining in the third. Ulysses (7-10, 3-4) scored the first basket of the final period to go up 52-39, when Scott City made their push. The Beavers wient on an 11-0 run over a two-minute stretch to get to within 52-50 with 5:12 left. Scott City had three chances to tie the game or take the lead over the next two minutes, but missed a couple shots, and missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Tigers ended their four-minute drought by scoring the next four points, and saw the Beavers get no closer to three late in the game, as they completed the season sweep. Four Tigers finished in double figures, led by Byran Garcia wiht 15 points. Garcia went 8-8 at the free throw line. Zach Zerr finished with 13 points, while Jaidon Taylor and AB Romero had 10 points apiece. Ulysses went 15-26 at the free throw line, including a 10-15 performance in the final quarter. Bo Hess led all scores with 23 points, and Marshal Faurot tied a career high with 16 points, as Scott City went 11-16 at the charity line. Ulysses has won two straight over Scott City for the first time since 2004.

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame