Holton, KS

It was the Big 7 league opener for both Holton and Riverside on Friday night, and the Wildcats would come away with the sweep of the cyclones.

Girls – Holton (2-0) 66 Riverside (0-3) 45

The game got off to a slow start with both teams struggling to score early in the first quarter. Riverside led 6-2 early before Holton's offense got clicking, thanks to sharp shooting by Senior guard Faith Haussler who helped the 'Cats end the first quarter on a 14-3 run to lead 16-9. From the start of the second quarter the Lady Cats never looked back. Forcing 38 Riverside turnovers, Holton was able to get out and run the floor and take advantage of the Cyclones' mistakes and roll to a 66-45 win.

Opponents know that Holton's offense runs through Junior Saydee Tanking, but what happens when Tanking isn't available? That was the question that arose on Friday night with Tanking picking up two quick fouls within the first couple of minutes of the game and picking up her third within the first minute of the second quarter. Tanking, sitting out with those three fouls had zero points, yet Holton led at halftime 36-19. Thanks in part by Sophomore Macey Patch, coming off the bench and sparking Holton with 6 points in the first half, but Holton was led by Senior guard Faith Haussler.

Haussler, a varsity experienced leader on this team has not been one in her previous three prep years to score a ton. Mainly due to the necessity not being there, but it was there on Friday night and she stepped up big. Scoring 15 points in the first half, Haussler ensured the Wildcats would stay on track even with their best scoring threat in foul trouble. Tanking would pick up her 4th foul in the third quarter but would not foul out as first year coach Kurt Haussler trusted his Junior guard to play smart. And she did. Finishing the night with 8 points. 

                   | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | FINAL |

    Holton    | 16 |  20  | 13 | 17  | 66 |

  Riverside | 9   |  10  |  8  | 18  | 45 |

HOLTON – F. Haussler 18, M. Patch 11, D. Hickman 10, S. Tanking 8, O. Yingst 5, T. Moore 4, P. Crouch 3, K. Rhodd 3, B. Flewelling 2, P. Paxton 2

RIVERSIDE – End. Byrd 14, L. O'Grady 6, J. Murphy 5, J. Ewing 5, M. O'Grady 4, E. Libel 4, L. Jones 2, Eu. Byrd 2, Z. Haynes 2, B. Miller 1

Boys – Holton (1-1) 59 Riverside (2-1) 38

The boys contest had a Wildcat team coming off a 19 point loss to Atchison the week prior and a Riverside team rolling with double digit wins over Troy and Doniphan West. In a back and forth first quarter Holton led 17-12 going into the second. That's when Holton would go on the run to set the game in their favor for good. Led by a dominant second quarter from behind the arc, Holton would outscore the Cyclones 17-5 to lead 34-17 at halftime and roll to a 59-38 final for their first win of the year.

Riverside would come out early in the game using their forwards Yegor Dittemore and Xavier Stillman as they outsized Holton by a large margin, however the defensive adjustments by 2nd year coach Connor Bechard shut down the Cyclones paint presence the rest of the game.

For the second straight game Junior guard Blake Mulroy paced the Wildcats and his hot shooting from three made for a tough task for the Cyclone defense. Mulroy would lead all scorers with a career high 19 points including five 3's. The Cyclones were led by Isaac Webb with 17 points including five 3's.

                 | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | FINAL |

   Holton   | 17  | 17  | 15  | 10  | 59 |

Riverside | 12  |  5   | 14  |  7   | 38 |

HOLTON – B. Mulroy 19, K. Purcell 13, R. Holaday 10, E. Prine 7, M. Lierz 4, C. Mulroy 2, T. Wright 2, J. Zeller 2,

RIVERSIDE – I. Webb 17, X. Stillman 8, Y. Dittemore 6, N. Byrd 3, B. Chalfant 2, M. Edwards 2