By Mike Tupa
mtupa@examiner-enterprise.com
Even with his two top scorers not in uniform, Kameron Nettleton still navigated Wesleyan Christian School to a road boys basketball win.
Paced by freshman Kaehl Smith with 13 points, the Mustangs squeezed past the Shidler Tigers, 31-29.
Seth Thomas added 10 points in the win.
After falling behind, 10-0, the Mustangs bucked up their defense and allowed just 19 points the rest of the game.
“We did some good things in the final quarter,” said Nettleton. “We had some good defensive stops in the fourth quarter.”
Thomas dropped in a three-pointer in the final period that pushed WCS into the lead.
Tyler Heck also deposited a key bucket off an offensive rebound and putback.
“We had some good things happen at the end,” said Nettleton.
Rounding out WCS’ scorers were Levi Harper with four points and Micah Owens and Heck with two apiece.
Nettleton went to battle without point producers Jerrell Martin and Desmond Thompson, who Nettleton said might not be back.
Girls: WCS 65, Shidler 10
“The girls needed this one,” coming off an eighth-place finish in last week’s Caney Valley tourney, head coach Rocky Clark said. “We didn’t play that well on Saturday against Copan,” in a 33-32 loss. We had a little bit of flu through the team.”
But, the Lady Mustangs rebounded at Shidler —literally.
Clark praised his team for its work on the boards and ball movement.
“We had a much, much better game,” said Clark.
Micah Clayton dropped in 26 points to lead WCS, followed by Morgan Cloud with 18.
Rounding out the scoring list were Camryn Holley, nine points; Meghan Clark, eight, and Denise Berry and Chaney Odden with two apiece.
WCS travels Friday to Shawnee to face Liberty.
The team eyes a couple of telling games next week — taking on Pawhuska on Tuesday and facing Wright Christian on Feb. 2 for homecoming.
WCS began its long season back in mid-November.
Girls: Eureka 40, Caney (Kan.) 39
Only one word sufficed for head coach Emily Washburn’s assessment of this loss.
“Heartbreaker.”
A victory would have been a major coup for Washburn’s Caney Valley (Kan.) Lady Bullpups — and they finished just agonizingly short.
“My girls played well,” said Washburn, in her first year coaching the Caney Valley girls.
She took the reins from longtime head coach Tom Nelson, who retired after last season.
In fact, Washburn was one of Nelson’s former players at Caney Valley.
Washburn — who coached for several years on the college level — said she enjoys working with the Lady Pups.
“It’s a completely different level ... as far as stress,” she said. “It was a really good change for me and my family.”
Her husband assists with the Caney Valley boys team and their children are involved in the sport.
Brea Buoy has been Caney Valley’s go-to player for Washburn.
During a tournament last week, Buoy scored 28 points on Friday and 30 on Saturday.
“She kind of has a knack for putting the ball in the basketball,” Washburn said. “She had to adjust to being a point guard and doing more things.”
Washburn feels encouraged by how the young Caney Valley squad —which is near .500 (5-6) — has responded to playing varsity basketball and to her coaching style.
Defense has been an emphasis, as proven by limiting Eureka to 40 points on its home floor.
Lady Eagle veteran Liz Rogers racked up seven blocked shots in the game.
Next up, the Lady Pups take on Neodesha (Kan.), which defeated them in the second game of the season.
They still have face games against Oklahoma foes Dewey and Nowata.
Boys: Dewey 69, Adair 59
Rack this one up in the very impressive column.
Adair has mostly gotten the best in recent years of the Doggers, who were coming off a tough loss following an eight-game winning streak.
Dewey took care of business against Adair, with Caston Frye leading the way scoring-wise, Dewey head coach Lance Knight said.
“We did what we needed to do to win,” he added. “We just maintained a bit. Adair is always a good win.”
Dewey plays host tonight to Pawhuska.
in an 8 p.m. showdown.