By Brandon Jacks
Madill’s boys’ basketball club fought hard in the fourth quarter, but could not close the gap late in a 50-43 loss to Tishomingo in the season opener at the Wildcat Fieldhouse on Friday.
Tanner Barnes’ free throw with 2:21 left in the contest pulled the ‘Cats within one point of the Indians at 44-43. His shot from the left baseline cut the Madill deficit with 3:25 remaining in the tilt. It was then 40-39 after freshman Asa Robertson netted a free throw to have the ‘Cats inch ever-closer to the Indians. Robertson returned to the charity stripe to sink two free throws at the 5:26 mark of the concluding quarter to get the ‘Cats within 40-38 of Tish.
Diego Flores drained a three-point bucket just 33 seconds into the fourth period to spark the Wildcats’ run late. Fifteen of Flores’ team-leading 16 points came of the strength of five three-pointers. Six of Nash Matlack’s 10 points originated from beyond the arc.
The Madill Lady Wildcats played Tishomingo tough in the first half, but saw the Lady Indians distance themselves from the Lady ‘Cats in the second half. The Madill squad fell 61-46 in the season’s first contest. The score stood 45-34 with Tishomingo leading at the end of three quarters.
The Lady ‘Cats kept pace with the Lady Indians successfully in the first half as Quaja Byars knocked in 12 of her team-high 16 points in the first half. Ruff dropped in a couple of buckets early in the contest to aid Madill’s effort to stay within a possession of Tish in the first frame.
Kaitlyn Jones contributed four points in the second quarter. Lesly Guerrero’s basket added to the point total in the first. Madison Jowers pitched in a couple of buckets in the second half. Kortlyn Yow scored four of her six points in the second half.
Girls’ game: score by quarters
Madill 12 12 10 12
Tishomingo 13 16 16 16
Madill girls individual scoring: Quaja Byars 18, Kaitlyn Jones 8, Kortlyn Yow 6, Madison Jowers 4, Rylee Ruff 4, Lesly Guerrero 2, Cloe Austin 2, Ashlynn Arnold 2
Boys’ game: score by quarters
Madill 16 7 10 10
Tishomingo 11 17 12 10
Madill boys individual scoring: Diego Flores 16, Nash Matlack 10, Asa Robertson 8, Tanner Barnes 6, Michael Alvarez 3, Davius Sanders 2
Scorebook information: Jennifer Rushing
Video camera operator: Zayne Barker