GVVC hoops round-up: Hume sweeps Miami, Lady Knights’ seven game win streak snapped

In Golden Valley Vernon County Conference prep hoops action, the Hume Hornets and Lady Hornets notched a varsity doubleheader sweep of the visiting Eagles of Miami (Amoret) on Tuesday.

In the boys’ contest, Hume trailed 28-17 at the half , and 42-33 entering the fourth quarter. The Hornets flipped the script in the fourth, outscoring, the Eagles, 27-6, en route to the 60-48 triumph.

Hume’s Peyton McFrederick recorded a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Sharing game-high scoring honors, Hume guard Braydon Cannon concluded with 17 points, including 7-of-9 from the charity stripe.

“The first three quarters were not pretty stuff,” said Hume head coach Justin Wehar. “We were a little flat on offense, and did not defend real good.”

The Hornets, however, were able to stay within striking distance.

“We were able to hang around, and get Miami into some foul trouble,” noted Wehar. “Then, with some full-court pressure, we gained all the momentum and outscored them (by 21 in the fourth) to seal the comeback win. I was really proud of how resilient the boys were tonight.”

Hume (5-11, 1-3 GVVC) squared off with Sheldon in a boy-girl GVVC varsity (road)doubleheader Thursday night. See a future edition of the Daily Mail for results.

In the girls’ contest, the Lady Hornets controlled the game from the onset, leading 17-5 at the conclusion of the opening frame, and then seizing a 27-8 halftime advantage.

The Lady Hornet lead swelled to 43-14 through three quarters of play, as Hume thumped Miami, 59-24.

“Overall, we played pretty well tonight,” said Wehar, also the Lady Hornets’ head coach, adding that his squad’s defense was a little flat at times. “But we still forced several turnovers, and were able to get out in transition,” he said.

Hume (6-10, 2-3 GVVC) was paced by Hannah Gorda and Katlyn Brooks, as the senior duo chipped in 20 points apiece.

“Katlyn and Hannah really stepped up, and led us with big offensive games,” summed up Wehar.

Lady Knights fall

The Northeast Vernon County Lady Knights saw their seven-game win streak come to a close Thursday evening at the Liberal High School-hosted Tony Dubray classic.

Squaring off in the winners’ bracket semifinals, No. 2 NEVC succumbed to No. 3 Galena (Kan.), 35-25.

Sparked by its suffocating defense, Galena led 15-4 entering the second, increasing their advantage to 25-7 at the break.

NEVC trimmed ever-so-slightly into Galena’s lead in the third, outscoring the squad from Kansas, 7-2, and trailed 27-14 through three quarters of play.

Galena was again outscored by NEVC in the fourth, 11-8, as the Lady Knights were unable to draw any closer.

“Again, we came out flat to start the game, and found ourselves in a huge hole on the scoreboard,” began NEVC head coach Jenny Allard. “We knew exactly what Galena was going to run, and I thought we had a solid defensive game-plan going into the game.”

Allard was concerned with her club’s mental focus from the opening tip.

“From the tip-off, it was obvious our heads weren’t in the game,” said the veteran head coach. “And that’s how we played for the entire first half. There’s no excuse for this team to only score seven points in two full quarters of varsity basketball.”

Added Allard: “With the number of seniors on this team, I would think there would be a bigger sense of urgency — especially on game-days. But honestly, there are times when I get the impression from their demeanor and body language that they just want the season to be over with. And that was the way we played in the first half.”

Allard said she was pleased that her team was able to chip into their big second half deficit.

“I was encouraged with the way we fought back in the second half,” she said. “Our defense was a lot more effective, holding Galena to just 10 points over two quarters. I think at one point, with two minutes left in the game, we had cut the lead to seven — but we just couldn’t get any closer, and eventually had to start fouling.”

NEVC was paced by Makinsey Conner’s team-high 14 points.

With the seven-game win streak now in their rearview, and coming off a lackluster performance, Allard said she believes her squad has plenty of time to regroup prior to postseason-play.

“Fortunately, we do still have a lot of games to play before the end of February when district-play begins,” she said. “So we have time to make adjustments in our game preparations, player rotations, and defensive philosophy. Unfortunately, we suffered a loss of a significant player during the game with an injury, and her return is questionable.”

Concluded Allard: “With all that being said, I love this team, and wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. I have complete faith in their abilities as basketball players and young women, that we will figure it all out. And when we do start playing to our potential, it will feel that much better knowing the obstacles we overcame to reach our goals at the end of the season.”

NEVC (8-3 overall) is set to square off with the fourth-seeded Bronaugh Lady Wildcats in the Tony Dubray Classic third-place game. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. today.

The teams previously met Dec. 1 in the GVVC Conference Tournament third-place game, with the Lady ’Cats eking out the 32-30 victory.

Bronaugh’s road to the Tony Dubray third-place game began with an opening-round victory (49-35) over fifth-seeded tourney-host Liberal, but was followed with a loss in the winners’ bracket semis, as they were derailed by top-seeded St. Mary’s Colgan, (Kan.), 45-32.

Bronaugh head coach Daryl Dodson said he was thrilled with his club’s performance against St. Mary’s, as the Lady Cat’s trailed 25-22 at the break.

“We played a great first half,” said Dodson. “They just had more girls to run in-and-out.”

Bronaugh (8-8) was led by Nicole Hagerman’s team-high 15 points, as the star freshman point guard also tallied five rebounds and four steals.