Last night the Horton Chargers swept in varsity 2-0 while hosting the Jackson Heights Cobras for the first time this year. Leading into the night both girls’ teams were 1-3 and both boys’ teams were undefeated in NEKL play. On one hand, it was a get right game for one of these lady teams, and for the boys it was to show who’s on top of the league. 

Horton Girls Vs. Jackson Heights Girls (49-44) 

The Lady Cobras came out sharp and firing against the Chargers, which was quite the opposite for the Chargers. The Lady Chargers were down 13-0 with five turnovers before they had a point on the board, the first quarter ended 21-6. Savannah Cattrell even hit two threes in the first quarter for the Cobra Girls.  It seemed all in favor for the Cobras as both teams posted six points in the second quarter, making it 27-12 going in to half. All seemed lost for Horton, however, head coach Gary Sorenson, one of the best coaches in all of North East Kansas history, who even coached and took the Lady Cobras to multiple state runs back in the day was able to bring his Lady Chargers back on track for a Chargers Comeback! The Chargers out scored the Cobras 12-7 in the third with the game heading to the fourth 23-34, the snakes still leading by eleven. In this fourth quarter the Horton girls put up twenty-four points and held Jackson Heights to ten, ending the game 49-44. The Chargers had to have key players step up into their roles last night. Stepping up to the plate primarily last night was Marlysa Banks, most of what she did- stats can’t show, but she played a phenomenal game defensively and despite how aggressive she was for the ball she only fouled once. Banks also got hot in the second half with eleven points, finishing the game with thirteen. I think it’s safe to say the bank was open for Christmas last night! Banks also won my player to Bank on, brought to you by the Farmers State Bank. Despite the hard loss for the Lady Cobras Dawson Cochren finished the game with a double-double having twenty points and ten rebounds for the snakes. 

Horton Boys Vs Jackson Heights Boys (52-42)

Horton Boys coming into last nights matchup were 4-0 overall and in league play, they had been averaging 54 points per-game. The Cobra Boys had taken one loss to Royal Valley at the beginning of the year and went flawless since with three straight wins. The Jackson Heights Boys took a 11-6 lead coming out of the first quarter. The first quarter ended with a Drake Mellies reverse layup with just one second left. The Horton Chargers jumped up by half 26-21, out scoring the Cobra Boys 20-10 in the second quarter. The Cobra Boys played a desperate game of catch-up in the second half, and despite getting the game within five multiple times, they fell at the end 52-42. The Cobras struggled outside the arch with only one made three pointer made in garbage time, which is unfortunate cause they’ve averaged nine a game. The Chargers had an unfair matchup with forward Donte Masqua who absolutely dominated the game for the Chargers within the paint. Masqua posted seventeen points and unofficially six rebounds, and also won my player to bank on. Drake Mellies was able to hit his scoring average fifteen per-game with his sixteen point game. 

Two tough losses for the Cobra Varsity but two huge ones for Horton’s Varsity. Horton will still have two more games left before break; facing ACCHS and Blue Valley-Randolph. Both Cobra teams will head into break ready to get mentally refocused for the main half of the season.

For more hoops, comebacks, insane layups, and bad puns, come and check out the Cobra Channel!