Scott City splits doubleheader with Ulysses
Scott City, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–It was Winter Homecoming for Scott City on Friday night, as they played host to the Ulysses Tigers at the Scott Community Events Center. The night would see a doubleheader split, as the Lady Beavers would hang on for a 49-41 win, while the Tiger boys picked up an overtime thriller 71-66.
Scott City Girls 56, Ulysses 51
It’s been a tough two weeks for the Scott City girls team. Friday night, they were without head coach Justin Faurot, who was him with sickness. Tricia Goode stepped in the head coaches role, as the Lady Beavers looked to snap a four-game losing skid. Scott City (6-10, 3-6 GWAC) never trailed in the game, as they closed out the final half of the first quarter on a 10-2 run to lead 16-10 after the first quarter. In the second, the Lady Beavers were able to extend their lead as they continued to get points in the paint, and extended their lead to 34-20 at the break. Ulysses (3-15, 1-8) trailed 44-29 with 1:24 left in the third quarter, when they made their late run to pull to within nine late in the third frame and were behind 46-35 after the third period. In the fourth, Scott City maintianed their lead, onlyt o see the Lady Tigers madke a final push, but Free throws down the stretch proved to be enough, as the Lady Beavers prevailed 56-51.
Piper Fox led the way with 21 points, tying a career-high, while Lily Lightner poured in a career-high 14 points and Peyton Gentry added 10. The Lady Beavers finished with 21 turnovers and were 12-20 at the free throw line. Ulysses got 25 from Erisbellie Alvarado, with 19 coming in the second half. The Lady Tigers were 9-17 at the foul line and had 20 turnovers.
With the win, Scott City has won 12 straight in the series, and now leads the series since 1980 55-37. It was a season-high of points for Ulysses. The Lady Beavers are 5-0 when scoring 50 or more points. Three of the five times they’ve hit their season-high of 56 points.
Coach Tricia Goode Postgame
Box Score
Ulysses 7 13 15 16–51
Scott City 16 18 12 10–56
Ulysses (3-15, 1-8): Xastillo 3 0-2 8; Alvarado 9 4-4 25; Lerma 0 1-2 1; Sanchez 2 0-0 8; Tapia 0 0-2 0; Schultz 2 4-4 8; Vitolas 0 0-0 0; McCormick 1 0-2 2; Team: 18 9-15 51
Scott City (6-10, 3-6): Gentry 2 5-6 10; Hineman 0 0-0 0; Fox 9 3-8 21; Campbell 0 0-0 0; Castillo 1 0-0 3; Irvin 3 2-4 8; Lightner 6 2-2 14; Felker 0 0-0 0; Team: 21 12-20 56
Three-Point Baskets: Ulysses 6 (Alvarado 3, Sanchez 2, Castillo 1), Scott City 2, (Gentry 1, Castillo 1); Turnovers; Ulysses 20, Scott City 21; Fouls: Ulysses 20, Scott City 18; Fouled Out: None.
Ulysses Boys 71, Scott City 66, OT
Neither side would have a lead bigger than seven, as there were nine ties and 10 lead changes in the finale. Ulysses would take a 15-14 lead after the opening period, and extend their lead using the three-ball, as they led 32-25 late in the first half, before settling for a 32-27 lead at the break. Everytime the Beavers would try to push for a run for a good chunk of the middle two quarters, the Tigers would respond. Scott City would use a 10-2 run in about a three-minute stretch to take the lead back at 41-38 with 1:43 left in the third frame. Ulysses (8-10, 4-5 GWAC) counted with the last six of the quarter to lead 44-41 going into the final period. The Beavers scored the first five points of the quarter, and trailing 50-48, used a 6-0 ru ot lead 54-50 with 3:08 left. Scott City (8-8, 4-5) would maintain the lead until the final seconds. They led 59-54 with 58.2 seconds left, when the Tigers drained a pair of free throws. The Beavers led 60-56, when Ulysses hit their first three with 20 seconds left at 60-59. After a pair of Scott City free throws with 9.7 seconds left, the Tigers hit a corner three with two seconds left to force overtime tied at 62. In the extra session, Ulysses would lead most of the way. The Beavers woul take a 66-65 lead with 1:05 left, but the Tigers had the last laugh, hitting a wide open three 11 seconds later, and hit three of their final four free throws down the stretch to come out with a 71-66 win.
Julan Meraz led the way for Ulysses with 23 points, while Luis Contreras had 16 points, all in the first half, and Stryker Berglund and Caden Ledesma had 10 points apiece. Ledesma hit the game-tying three late in regulation and the go-ahead with 54 seconds left. The Tigers were 12-16 from the free throw line and finished with 10 turnovers. Scott City was led by Avery Radke with 18 poitns, Junior Meza added 16, and Mickey Gossman had a career-high 13 points. The Beavers finished with 12 turnovers and were 11-17 from the free throw line.
The win by Ulysses snapped a Scott City three-game win streak in the series. Scott City leads the series 63-27 since 1980. The Beavers have lost three consecutive overtime games.
Coach Brian Gentry Postgame
Box Score
Ulysses 15 17 12 18 9–71
Scott City 14 13 14 21 4–66
Ulysses (8-10, 4-5): Berglund 3 4-6 10; Perez 2 0-0 4; Meraz 9 2-4 23; Leyva 0 0-0 0; Browning 1 2-2 4; Ledesma 3 2-2 10; Garcia 2 0-0 4; Contreras 6 0-0 16; Team: 25 12-16 71
Scott City (8-8, 4-5): Tarango 0 0-0 0; Radke 6 2-2 18; Faurot 2 1-2 6; Metzger 2 1-3 6; Irvin 1 3-4 5; Meza 6 3-4 16; Wren 0 0-0 0; Felker 1 0-0 2; Cook 0 0-0 0; Gossman 6 1-2 13; Team: 24 11-17 65
Three-Point Baskets: Ulysses 9 (Contreras 4, Meraz 3, Ledesma 2), Scott City 7 (Radke 4, Faurot 1, Metzger 1, Meza 1); Turnovers: Ulysses 10, Scott City 12; Fouls: Ulysses 14, Scott City 17; Fouled Out: None.
Scott City will play at Hoxie on Monday and hosts Larned on Tuesday, while Ulysses travels to Lakin on Saturday and are at Hugoton on Tuesday.
