Scott City boys pull away from Hugoton; Lady Eagles win big

Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Scott City Beavers Coach Glenn O’Neil accomplished a milestone on Friday night at Scott Community High School.  Although the visiting Hugoton Eagles made it interesting for three quarters, the Beavers boys pulled away late, as Coach O’Neil won his 500th career game in a 75-57 win over the Eagles on Winter Homecoming Friday night. Out of O’Neil’s 500 wins, 341 have come at Scott City in 19 seasons. The Lady Eagles dominated the first game of the night, as they defeated the Lady Beavers 65-29.

In the girls game of the night, the No. 3 team in Class 4A, Division II put away any mind of an upset early on. Hugoton (13-2, 6-0 GWAC) raced out to score the games first 17 points in the first four minutes of the opening period, and led 21-5 after the first quarter. Although Scott City (3-12, 0-6) started off slow, they found a little more offense in the next two quarters. The Lady Eagles would take a 46-13 halftime lead, closing on a 12-0 run in the final 2:23 of the half. After  the Lady Beavers scored the first two points of the half, Hugoton went on a 9-0 run and led by as many as 42 in the game at 61-23 after three quarters. Scott City scored on back to back possessions only two times in the game. With a running clock in the final eight minutes, the Lady Beavers would outscore Hugoton 6-4, as the Lady Eagles have now built up a three-game lead in the Great West Activities Conference with four league games remaining. Three players finished in double figures for Hugoton, led by Katy Heger with 20 points while Amy Scott had 13 and Riley Sosa added 11. Scott City got a team-high nine points from Nicole Latta. 

Coach Shelby Crawford Postgame

The nightcap would be tightly played in the first half, as the game ended up seeing eight lead changes and six ties. While Scott City led 18-16 after the first quarter and 35-33 at the break, Hugoton would not go away easily. The Beavers would lead by as many as five, while the Eagles led as much as three in the first half. After Hugoton (10-5, 3-3 GWAC) tied the game at 35 early in the third quarter, a 12-4 run by Scott City (14-1, 5-1) gave them a 47-39 lead midway through the third quarter. They would grow their lead to 55-45, before the Eagles scored the final five points in the third period to pull to within 55-50 going into the final quarter. After both teams traded two points in the first minute of the final frame, the Beavers pulled away, using an 18-5 run ton end the final 6:26 of the game, en route to their 14th win of the season. Scott City has now won eight straight, and were led by Trey O’Neil’s 28 points, while Brett Meyer had 12 and Dylan Hutchins and Sloan Baker added 11 each. Hugoton has now dropped their fourth game in the last five, and saw Zack Leininger lead the way with 18 points, while Kellen Watkins and Wade Heger had 13 and 12 points respectively.

Coach Glenn O’Neil Postgame

During halftime of the boys game, the Winter Homecoming ceremony took place, and Brett Meyer was crowned king, while Macy Davis was crowned queen.

Scott City will stay at home and face TMP-Marian in their final non-league battles of the regular season on Tuesday, while Hugoton has a week off to prepare for Goodland at home next Friday.