The high school basketball tipped off on Thursday night for the Frankfort Wildcats and they opened the season on the road taking on a Class 3A school in Silver Lake and while the night ended with a pair of losses for the Wildcats it was two hard fought games. The lady Wildcats despite leading most of the game fell 70-68 in double overtime to Silver Lake the Eagle boys used a fourth quarter run to cement their win 55-41 over Frankfort. 

The night started with Frankfort girls pouncing on Silver Lake early to lead 10-3 led by Emilee Ebert who scored six of the team’s first 14 points for Frankfort but the Eagles hit some early three-pointers from Kayla Lane and tied the game at 14-14 after the first quarter. Frankfort pushed back in the second frame to extend their lead out to as high as nine points and carried a 31-26 lead into halftime but also entered halftime with foul trouble. That foul trouble showed up early in the second half as just 19 seconds into the third quarter Ebert was called her fourth personal and had to go to the bench but Frankfort continued to lead into the fourth quarter lead by several gals. Silver Lake broke through for the lead with 3:18 left in the fourth at 42-41 and the lead changed hands several times but free throws down the stretch by both teams tied things up at 51-51 and the game went to overtime. In overtime both teams had players foul out of the contest with the fouls hurting Frankfort a bit more. Both teams had opportunities to win but it was Silver Lake with a shot to win the game at the end of the first overtime but came up short. In the second overtime Silver Lake held a two-point lead late and Frankfort had a shot to tie the game towards the end of regulation but came up short and fell 70-68 in double overtime. 

Jessa Yaussi led Frankfort in the loss posting 18 points and earned Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA. Rebecca Adams chipped in 14 points, while Ebert had freshman, Kennan Brandt each scored 13 points for the Wildcats who start the season 0-1 with the loss. Silver Lake in the win was led by Lane who scored 32 points, while Jade Mountain added 12 points. The game featured over 60 free throws as Frankfort went 22-39 and Silver Lake 22-30 from the line. 

In the nightcap the Frankfort boys held tough in the contest until late when Silver Lake went on a run in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to double digits and secure the win. Frankfort stayed with the bigger Silver Lake trailing 12-9 after the first quarter and only were down by one at the half 23-22. The Wildcats used an 11-14 performance from the charity stripe in the first half to stay with Silver Lake who got 10 of their first 12 points from Mason Griffin. The Wildcats in the third quarter made a run with some big shots to take their second lead of the game but Silver Lake quickly took it back and led 41-36 after three quarters of play. The game was tight in the fourth until the Eagles grew the lead to 13 points with 4:21 left in the game and the Wildcats were unable to get back within single digits the rest of the way falling 55-41. 

Frankfort in the loss was led by Brenden Levi who tallied 11 points earning Community National Bank "Player to Bank On" honors on KMZA, while Jedd Rose and Mitchell Olson each contributed nine points. The Wildcats finished the night 12-17 from the free throw line, while Silver Lake shot 21 free throws in the second half and finished 12-23 from the line in the game. The Eagles were led by Griffin who scored 22 points, while Wyatt Heiman added 11 points.

The basketball season continues for Frankfort on Friday night with their home opener as they host Pawnee City, while Silver Lake will hit the court again on Tuesday at home versus Council Grove.