VERDIGRIS - The Salina Lady Wildcats kept their season alive Thursday afternoon with a 58-25 win over Nowata.

Salina kept Nowata scoreless for the first 10:30 minutes of the game. After a 16-0 first quarter, the Lady Ironmen got on the board with 5:30 remaining in the second. The game was already out of reach at that point, and Nowata never made any sort of a comeback attempt. A buzzer beater by Courtney Backward gave Salina a 30-9 lead at the half. Kayla Morgan had 12 points in the first half to lead the Lady Wildcats.

Nowata went on another dry spell in the third, as it wasn’t until the 3:47 mark that they got a bucket. At the end of the third, Salina led 43-14.

The Salina reserves got some postseason experience in the fourth to help finish off the win.

Morgan led the Lady Wildcats for the game with 18 points. Backward had 12. Whitley Gann finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.

Salina will play Pawhuska tonight, 6:30 p.m. at Adair.



Salina 58 Nowata 25

S - 16 14 13 15 - 58

N - 0 9 5 11 - 25

S - Kayla Morgan 18, Courtney Backward 12, Whitley Gann 11, Jericho Neighbors 5, Emily Pritchett 4, Erin Jordan 3, Kindra Swafford 1, Cherish Barry 1.



Nowata ends Salina’s season



It was an early exit to the postseason for the Salina Wildcats Thursday, as they lost to Nowata, 55-38.

Salina had a tough draw for the postseason, being matched up with a private school in the first round (Victory Christian) and a very big, athletic Nowata team in the second round who sport 6'8" big man Greg Renfroe.

Salina gave their usual Wildcat fight, but couldn't overcome an early deficit. The Wildcats trailed 15-8 after the first, and the lead built to 17 midway through the second. Salina clawed back and a Dillon Manchell three at the buzzer cut the lead to 29-19 going into the break.

Salina got as close as nine in the second half, but couldn’t get any closer. At the end of the third, the Wildcats trailed 38-25.

Starters Paul Harvey and Dalton Daniels fouled out in the fourth, which hampered Salina’s comeback attempt.

Dillon Manchell led Salina with 22 points. Ty Stewart grabbed 10 rebounds. Renfroe led the Ironmen with 16.



Nowata 55 Salina 38

S - 8 11 6 13 - 38

N - 15 14 9 17 - 55

S - Dillon Manchell 22, Paul Harvey 6, Ty Thompson 3, Dalton Daniels 2, Ty Stewart 2, Jake Johnson 2, Jerod Gates 1. N - Renfroe 16, Hensley 12, Lewis 9, Barham 8 Webb 6, Davis 3, Boone 1.