The Circle Thunderbirds could not put the game to rest at the free throw line. But the Mulvane Wildcats could not make the game-winning basket either.
After going on an 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter, Ty Redington gave the Wildcats a 46-45 lead after shooting a 3-pointer with 1:06 left in the game. It was a match-up in which they spent the majority of the game behind. But Stuart Dennison’s inside shot proved to be the ultimate difference, giving the Thunderbirds a 47-46 victory in Towanda.
Stuart Dennison of Circle was fouled after rebounding a missed shot by the Wildcats in the closing seconds of the game but missed from the line, giving the Wildcats one last opportunity, which resulted in a miss by Austin Duncan.
“Well, it was nice to have a score come out to your advantage, we had three or four possessions towards the end of the game that had to be done and that was the difference in the game,” said Head Coach Burt Helmer.
The Circle Thunderbirds got off to a hot start, building up a 16-6 lead in the first quarter after going on a 10-0 run.
The Wildcats shot two 3-pointers early in the game, as they were hot when shooting from outside the arc for much of the first half. In the second half, however, they struggled on perimeter shooting.
“We’d like for them to shoot all the three’s we want. The team that shoots the most three’s usually loses. Those aren’t high percentage shots,” Helmer said.
The Thunderbirds led by as much as nine in the second quarter but the Wildcats came right back, trailing only by three at halftime 27—24. That all paved the way for a close second half in which both teams were as much seven points away from each other.
The Thunderbirds went on a 6-2 run in the third quarter to take a 41-36 lead. Mulvane would battle back again where Redington would eventually make a potential game clutching 3-pointer before the Thunderbirds cancelled it out. Redington also missed a 3-pointer while the Wildcats were still up 46-45 with less than a minute to go.
Duncan would get the ball inside the arc with ten seconds left to put up a last-second shot that did not fall through.
“They hit a three to take the lead, that’s not great defense, but the next two possessions in which we were on defense, yes we did defend the ball very well, and we were in good position to close out the shots and we ended up getting the two big rebounds,” Helmer said.
Nolan Smith led the Wildcats with 12 points while Dennison finished the night with 16.
Mulvane Girls 41, Circle 29
The Mulvane Lady Wildcats (8-6) put up a sluggish first quarter, trailing 11-2 but managed to turn things around in a 41-29 victory over the Circle Lady Thunderbirds (5-9).
The Lady Thunderbirds were held to only five points in the second quarter while the Lady Wildcats scored 14 points to make it a one-point game at halftime.
A fourth quarter surge of 17 points from the Lady Wildcats was what they needed for the victory.
Madison Bish of Mulvane was the leading scorer with 12 points while Ashley Frankenberry scored nine points to lead the Lady Thunderbirds.
After going on an 8-0 run late in the fourth quarter, Ty Redington gave the Wildcats a 46-45 lead after shooting a 3-pointer with 1:06 left in the game. It was a match-up in which they spent the majority of the game behind. But Stuart Dennison’s inside shot proved to be the ultimate difference, giving the Thunderbirds a 47-46 victory in Towanda.
Stuart Dennison of Circle was fouled after rebounding a missed shot by the Wildcats in the closing seconds of the game but missed from the line, giving the Wildcats one last opportunity, which resulted in a miss by Austin Duncan.
“Well, it was nice to have a score come out to your advantage, we had three or four possessions towards the end of the game that had to be done and that was the difference in the game,” said Head Coach Burt Helmer.
The Circle Thunderbirds got off to a hot start, building up a 16-6 lead in the first quarter after going on a 10-0 run.
The Wildcats shot two 3-pointers early in the game, as they were hot when shooting from outside the arc for much of the first half. In the second half, however, they struggled on perimeter shooting.
“We’d like for them to shoot all the three’s we want. The team that shoots the most three’s usually loses. Those aren’t high percentage shots,” Helmer said.
The Thunderbirds led by as much as nine in the second quarter but the Wildcats came right back, trailing only by three at halftime 27—24. That all paved the way for a close second half in which both teams were as much seven points away from each other.
The Thunderbirds went on a 6-2 run in the third quarter to take a 41-36 lead. Mulvane would battle back again where Redington would eventually make a potential game clutching 3-pointer before the Thunderbirds cancelled it out. Redington also missed a 3-pointer while the Wildcats were still up 46-45 with less than a minute to go.
Duncan would get the ball inside the arc with ten seconds left to put up a last-second shot that did not fall through.
“They hit a three to take the lead, that’s not great defense, but the next two possessions in which we were on defense, yes we did defend the ball very well, and we were in good position to close out the shots and we ended up getting the two big rebounds,” Helmer said.
Nolan Smith led the Wildcats with 12 points while Dennison finished the night with 16.
Mulvane Girls 41, Circle 29
The Mulvane Lady Wildcats (8-6) put up a sluggish first quarter, trailing 11-2 but managed to turn things around in a 41-29 victory over the Circle Lady Thunderbirds (5-9).
The Lady Thunderbirds were held to only five points in the second quarter while the Lady Wildcats scored 14 points to make it a one-point game at halftime.
A fourth quarter surge of 17 points from the Lady Wildcats was what they needed for the victory.
Madison Bish of Mulvane was the leading scorer with 12 points while Ashley Frankenberry scored nine points to lead the Lady Thunderbirds.
