Scott City sweeps Ulysses

Ulysses, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–It’s been a while since the last time Scott City has swept both games of a league doubleheader on the road. Two longtime rivals met up Friday night in Ulysses, as the Beavers boys and girls basketball teams would take early leads and posted a pair of road wins. The Scott City girls blasted the Lady Tigers 47-17 and the boys completed the sweep with a 53-40 win.

Girls
There’s only one way to validate a win like the Lady Beavers had on Tuesday. That’s back it up with another statement win. Scott City did just that, and dominated in a big way. The Lady Beavers used runs of 11 and 13 in the first half to build up a 28-4 lead at the break. Ulysses (1-9, 0-5 GWAC) had an early 1-0 lead, and only hit one field goal in the first half. Scott City struggled from the field early on, but made up for it in the second quarter, hitting eight of 12 shots in that period alone. Not only were they taking care of business on the offensive end, they were contesting about every Tiger shot and forced 15 first half turnovers. The Lady Tigers went without a point for 12:10, and did not have a field goal for a 13:58 stretch of the second and third quarters. While both teams struggled in the third quarter, the Lady Beavers stretched their lead to 34-8 going into the final quarter. Scott City (3-5, 2-2) ended up having nine different players score, while outscoring Ulysses 13-9 in the fourth quarter to get their first win in Ulysses since 2012, when they won 38-33. Scott City got another career-best 16 points from Kaitlyn Roberts off the bench, while Kiana Yager added 10. Ulysses got a team-high seven points from freshman Gina Ballestaeros. This was the first time the Lady Beavers picked up back to back wins since 2012, when they defeated Hugoton and Ulysses in the same week. Scott City also snapped a five-game losing streak to the Lady Tigers.

Coach Sarah McCormick Postgame

Boys
Both teams were looking at picking themselves off the mat after tough losses on Tuesday. For Ulysses, they came in dropping their last two games, while Scott City fell to a solid Holcomb team in their previous game. After the Tigers scored the games first points, the Beavers would rattle off 19 of the games next 22 points to build up a 19-5 lead late in the first quarter. Ulysses (5-5, 2-3 GWAC) scored a quick five points to end the first period to make the score to 19-10 after the first quarter. In the next three periods, the scoring slowed down in each quarter. Scott City (5-3, 2-2) saw its lead trimmed no closer to eight, and by as many as 13, when they took a 29-16 lead at intermission. In the second half, the Beavers held the Tigers in check, and countered every run they would make. Ulysses ended up outscoring Scott City 13-10 in the third quarter to make it 39-29, but the Beavers would not let them get any closer the entire second half, as the Beavers won their 12th straight in the series. Leading the charge for Scott City was Dylan Hutchins and Drew Duff with 13 points while Bo Hess added 11. Ulysses was led by Abraham Romero with 15 points and Tre Pauda with 12. 

Coach Glenn O’Neil Postgame

Scott City will begin play in the 31st Annual Paul Wintz/Tom Bowen Orange & Black Classic in Colby on Thursday, when the girls will take on defending tournament champion Pine Creek at 3, and the boys face Kansas City Schlagle at 4:45. Both games are at the Colby Community Building. The Ulysses girls will play at Garden City on Tuesday for a regular season game, while the boys open up play against Olathe Northwest on Thursday at the Valley Center January Jam.