March 29, 2024

Lakin and Scott City split doubleheader

Lakin, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Playing their final non-conference opponents of the season, the Scott City basketball teams hit the road on Tuesday night to face two of the top teams in the Hi-Plains League in the Lakin Broncs. It would end up being a split in the doubleheader, as the Lady Beavers would pick up a 55-42 win, while the Bronc boys earned a 70-47 win.

Scott City Girls 55, Lakin 42
For a second consecutive game, Scott City would lead a game from start to finish. After leading 2-1 early, the Lady Beavers used a 9-0 run to lead 11-1 with 2:39 left in the first period. Lakin would rally for six straight, using two three-point plays to pull to within 11-7 late in the opening frame, before a Scott City basket gave them a 13-7 lead after one period. After the Lady Beavers built their lead back up to 10, the Lady Broncs would score seven unanswered to pull to within 17-14 midway through the second quarter. However, Scott City would put together eight straight over the final 90 seconds of the half to take a 25-14 lead. Their lead would grow to 13 early in the second half, before Lakin would score nine straight to pull to within 27-23 with a little over three minutes left in the third quarter. After that, the Lady Beavers would take charge of the game, closing the period on a 12-4 run to lead 39-27 after three quarters. Scott City would lead by 16 on two occasions, with the last coming at 45-29 with a little over five minutes left. The closest the Lady Broncs got was 11 with 3:16 left at 50-39. Both teams would trade baskets down the stretch, as Scott City picked up the 55-42 win.

Leading the way was Brooke Strine, who had a career-high 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Alli Patton had a career-high 13 points and eight rebounds. The Lady Beavers went 11-15 at the line and had 15 turnovers. Lakin was led by Jaya Esquibel with 18 points, and Jara Davidson had 11 points off the bench. The Lady Broncs were 12-14 at the free throw line and had 21 turnovers.

With the win, Scott City now has won five straight in the series, and leads the series 25-21 since 1983. It was their second straight win for the first time this year, and the first time all season they have scored at least 50 points in a game. 

Scott City 13-12-14-16-55
Lakin         7-7-13-15-42

Scott City (4-12): Rumford 1 0-0 2; Strine 10 2-3 22; Latta 3 3-4 9; Ford 0 2-2 2; Felker 2 1-2 5; Cupp 1 0-0 2; Stevens 0 0-0 0; Patton 5 3-3 13; Team: 22 11-15 55
Lakin (9-7): Wright 2 2-2 6; Rider 0 0-0 0; Esquibel 5 6-7 18; Gonzalez 1 0-0 2; Groth 0 0-0 0; Beltran 2 1-2 5; Davidson 4 3-3 11; Bachman 0 0-0 0; Vogel 0 0-0 0; Team: 14 12-14 42

Three Pointers: Scott City 0, Lakin 2 (Esquivel 2); Rebounds: Scott City 31, Lakin 19; Turnovers: Scott City 15, Lakin 21; Fouls: Scott City 19, Lakin 12; Fouled Out: None.

Lakin Boys 70, Scott City 47
Scott City would meet up with the second No. 1 team in as many weeks, as Lakin moved up to the top spot in Class 3A. The Beavers would give the Broncs a good shot, but Lakin proved to be too much. Scott City lead for most of the first quarter, only to see the Broncs score nine straight to lead 13-6 a minute into the second frame. The Beavers saw themselves staying within reach of the lead, pulling to within 19-14 with 3:31 left before halftime. Lakin would speed up the Beavers by forcing turnovers and they would get hot from the floor late in the first half, closing the final 2:41 of the half with 14 straight to lead 33-14 at the break. Scott City scored the first five points of the second half to get to within 14 at 33-19, but the Broncs would use a 17-4 run to lead 50-23 with 2:34 left in the third quarter. That would be Lakin’s largest lead of the night, as the Beavers could get no closer than 19 down the stretch. Scott City would outscore the Broncs in the final eight minutes 19-16, but would fall short 70-47.

Hunter Davis led all scorers with 21 points, as he scored his 1,000th career point in the fourth quarter in front of not only his current coach Nate Schmitt, but also former Meade head coach and current Scott City principal Aaron Dardis. Davis transferred to Lakin from Meade last season. Servando Gonzalez had 18 points and Allen Martinez added 17 for the Broncs, who shot 12-18 at the free throw line. Scott City was led by Gus Hawkins with 10 points, as they were 2-8 at the foul line, and had 15 turnovers. 

With the win, it’s the first time that Lakin has won back to back against Scott City since 2001-02, which was the last time they started their season 16-0. It was the first time that the Beavers lost at Lakin Middle School in 12 games, and it was the first time that the Broncs defeated Scott City at home since 1995, which was over a span of 13 games. Scott City leads the series since 1983 36-13.

Scott City 6-8-14-19-47
Lakin      10-23-21-16-70

Scott City (3-12): I. Tarango 0 0-0 0; Rosin 1 0-0 3; King 2 0-0 6; Stevens 2 0-1 4; Thon 0 0-0 0; Culp 2 2-5 6; Hawkins 5 0-2 10; Bailey 1 0-0 2; Metzger 2 0-0 6; Thomas 1 0-0 2; E. Tarango 0 0-0 0; Johnson 1 0-0 2; Gooden 3 0-0 6; Team: 20 2-8 47
Lakin (16-0): Bachman 0 0-0 0; Gonzalez 6 0-0 18; Morgan 0 0-0 0; Pinter 1 0-0 3; Martinez 7 1-2 17; Hudson 1 1-2 4; Arreola 0 0-0 0; Beltran 0 0-0 0; Daniels 2 2-3 6; Davis 6 8-10 22; Hansen 0 0-0 0; Davidson 0 0-0 0; Team: 23 12-17 70

Three Pointers: Scott City 5 (King 2, Metzger 2, Rosin 1); Lakin 12 (Gonzalez 6, Martinez 2, Davis 2, Pinter 1, Hudson 1); Rebounds: Scott City 19, Lakin 24; Turnovers: Scott City 15, Lakin 11; Fouls: Scott City 15, Lakin 14; Fouled Out: None.

Coach Brian Gentry Postgame

Scott City will remain on the road, as they will play at Holcomb on Friday, and the boys are scheduled for their rescheduled game at Cimarron on Saturday. Lakin hosts Elkhart Friday and Wiley, CO on Saturday.