Bronaugh Wildcats hope third time's a charm

By Larry Lewis

Bronaugh coach Tim Judd has seen his Wildcats lose twice to Golden City, but he thinks the next time may be different.

"I feel like the third time, we can get them," he said.

The third time will be tonight for the sectional championship at Lamar, Mo.

Bronaugh dropped its initial encounter with Golden City 57-36, but the Wildcats were minus their tallest player, then-injured 6-foot-3 post John Whitworth. That loss was Bronaugh's first of the season after they had climbed to a No. 6-state ranking.

With Whitworth healthy in meeting No. 2, the Wildcats, behind Tyler Judd's 35 points, battled the Eagles to the wire in a 58-56 loss at the Liberal Tournament. Judd scored all 11 fourth-quarter points to lead Bronaugh back from a four-point deficit to a 56-all tie before Golden City's Eric Ansley's game-deciding jumper with five seconds left.

Also, the Wildcats hurt themselves with a poor shooting effort from the free-throw line in that contest, hitting only 7-of-17 including 0-of-4 in the final quarter.

Golden City (23-3), ranked third in the state, will, undoubtedly, be a handful. But the Wildcats (20-7) are probably playing as well or better than at any time this season.

The winner will advance to the quarterfinal round at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., on Saturday.