Ulysses uses big starts to sweep Scott City

Ulysses, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–With the end of the regular season near, every game becomes crucial for every team in contention of a state tournament berth. Not only was positioning on the line for Scott City and Ulysses Tuesday night, but also positioning in the Great West Activities Conference standings. With games that featured a pair of matchups with identical records, the night would belong to the Tigers on Senior Night, as the Lady Tigers came away with a 51-34 win, while the Ulysses boys pulled away late for a 51-43 win.

Ulysses Girls 51, Scott City 34
This was a game, where both teams struggled early on to find their shot, especially for Scott City. The No. 8 team in Class 4A would never trail, jumping out to a 9-0 lead before the Lady Beavers scored, and led 17-7 after the first quarter. For the Lady Tigers, it was a 9-5 run in the second quarter to take a 26-12 lead.

Scott City (12-6, 6-2 GWAC) used a 7-2 run to pull to within 28-19 with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter. That would be the closest they would get the rest of the night. Ulysses (14-4, 7-1) closed the final 3:58 of the third frame on a 10-1 run to take a 38-20 lead after three quarters. Their lead would expand to as big as 22 with 5:41 remaining in the game at 44-22. The teams would trade baskets for the most part down the stretch for the most part, as the Lady Tigers coasted to the win.

Madison Haney would lead all scorers with 23 points, while Gina Balleseros added 10. Ulysses was 9-10 from the free throw line and committed 13 turnovers. Scott City got nine from Lyndi Rumford and eight from Emily Weathers. The Lady Beavers were 7-11 from the foul line and committed 11 turnovers. Ulysses won the rebounding battle 38-24.

With the win, Ulysses swept the season series from Scott City for the first time since 2015, and it is their longest win streak in the series at three since 2014-15. The Lady Tigers are in first place by one game over Scott City, and are in position to win their first GWAC title. Scott City still leads the series 41-31 since 1984.

Coach Sarah McCormick Postgame

Ulysses Boys 51, Scott City 43
Both teams struggled from the floor for most of the first half, especially Scott City. The Beavers were 1-11 in the first quarter, and had a six-minute drought in the first half in between baskets. Ulysses would lead 7-3 after the first quarter, and use a 13-2 run over a six-minute stretch in the first half to lead 18-5 with 3:52 remaining before halftime. Scott City (11-7, 4-4 GWAC) would slowly get back to within single digits, trailing 23-14 at the break.

While both teams shot sub-30% in the first half, it got a little better in the second. The Beavers scored the first points of the third period to get to within seven at 23-16. Ulysses (8-10, 5-3) would push their lead to 28-16 in the first two minutes of the second half, thanks to a quick 5-0 run. The Tigers led 34-27 after the third quarter. Scott City had their chances to pull much closer. They used a 10-2 run over a three-minute span in the third and fourth quarters to get to within 34-31 with 6:35 left. That was as close as they got the rest of the night. Ulysses went on an 11-3 run over the next three minutes, and eventually grew their lead to 51-36 with 36 seconds left. The Beavers scored the final seven points of the night to make the final 51-43.

Victor Perez led all scorers with 22 points, and hit all seven of his shots in the second and third quarter, and Devin Walker finished with 11. The Tigers were 2-2 from the line, which they shot with 36 seconds left, and had 13 turnovers. Scott City was led by Marshall Faurot’s 19 points. The Beavers went 8-14 at the foul line, and finished with nine turnovers. Ulysses won the rebounding battle 35-22.

With the win, Ulysses snapped a three-game losing streak to Scott City, and moved into a second place tie with Colby in the GWAC standings with two games remaining. Scott City still leads in the series 48-20 since 1985. They are now on their first two-game losing streak since December and have dropped three of their last four games. Ulysses has won three of their last five games overall.

The last time Ulysses swept Scott City in varsity girls and boys play on the same night was in 2010.

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame 

Up next for Scott City is a road game at Holcomb on Friday, before wrapping up the regular season at home against Goodland on Tuesday. Ulysses visits Goodland on Friday, and will host Hugoton the following Friday to close the regular season.