Wynot needs OT to win rematch with Wildcats
HARTINGTON - Wynot hands HNS its first loss in 2019 after the Lady Cats had won 11 straight starting with the Hartington Invite.
The Lady Blue Devils won 40-33 in double overtime in a thrilling semifinal matchup in the Girls Lewis & Clark Conference Basketball Tournament.
Wynot and Hartington-Newcastle have history, even recently with the Lady Cats defeating the Lady Blue Devils on Jan. 4 at the Hartington Invite.
That win had marked two straight for HNS and started an 11-game win streak heading into Saturday’s game in Hartington.
Defense was the name of the game in this showdown, with each team running a full-court press through much of the game.
“They were down a girl, we were down a girl, and they adjusted their offensive scheme and we did too,” said Wynot head coach Steve Wieseler. “I think that is why the points weren’t necessarily there for both teams because we were each missing a key offensive player.”
The Lady Devils found offense from a balanced attack with Shaelee Planer leading the way with ten points. She was followed by Katelyn Heine, Emersyn Sudbeck, and Karley Heimes each contributing eight points, Kaitlyn Heimes netting five, and Noelle Wieseler adding a free throw.
The Lady Wildcats were led with a strong offensive presence down low by senior Belle Harms. Her 17 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks were all game-highs as she was a block away from a rst career triple-double.
Planer helped Wynot build an early lead with two 3-pointers and a layup for eight points by halftime. The output helped build a 26-16 lead at the break.
In the second quarter, the gym went quiet when HNS senior Evvie Krie went down with an upper body injury. She was escorted off the court, and it seemed the Lady Cats would be two players down for the remainder of the game.
HNS leading scorer Abbe Morten was already sidelined with a boot on her foot preventing her from suiting up.
Krie would return though, and have a big second half to help bring her team on a late surge.
Hartington-Newcastle rallied in the third quarter, holding Wynot to just two points on offense. Meanwhile, the Lady Cats cut the lead to two, heading into the fourth quarter trailing 28-26.
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