Third game of week sends Lynx to Humboldt
Can WCHS boys sustain momentum? Can girls have a breakthrough?
The girls’ game will tip-off at 6:15 p.m., followed by the boys’ clash at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Both squads are coming off solid performances against South Central Calhoun on Tuesday.
The WCHS girls’ team rallied from a 20-point second-half deficit to force overtime against the Titans, and although the Lynx walked away with their fourth loss in as many outings, they feel a breakthrough is right around the corner.
Taylor McKinney (20 points), Cassidy Nerland (17) and Halle Mason (15) handled most of the scoring on Tuesday. It marked the first time that three Lynx scored 15 points or more in the same game in more than a decade.
Standing just 5-foot-9, Nerland has been plenty physical inside the paint where she averages a double-double — 11.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. McKinney, just a freshman, averages 10 points an outing, although one of her appearances was less than three minutes against top-ranked (Class 3A) Pocahontas Area on Monday. Mason averages 8.3 points.
WCHS (0-4, 0-1 NCC) dropped its league opener to Iowa Falls-Alden last Friday, 58-49. Humboldt (1-2, 0-1 NCC) is attempting to rebound after a narrow two-point league loss to Algona, 43-41.
The Wildcats rely on senior Avery Terwilliger to set the pace. The veteran averages 12 points per game, although she has struggled with her shot; she’s connected on just 32 percent of her attempts, including 24 percent from outside the arc.
Abi Zaugg (7.7 ppg) and Halie George (6.3 ppg) are also solid scoring options for Humboldt.
The WCHS boys’ team (1-1, 0-0 NCC) hopes to keep the momentum from Tuesday’s 53-50 win over South Central Calhoun, a game it didn’t lead until just 1:45 remained in the fourth quarter. But the Lynx will have to contend with a Humboldt (2-0, 0-0 NCC) crew that averages 70.5 points per game.
Both teams have three players that average in double figures through just two games. Devon Clark (18.5 ppg), Calvin Carlson (11.5 ppg) and Drew Thomas (11.0 ppg) lead Humboldt, while WCHS receives the bulk of its scoring from Connor Shannon (15.0 ppg), Jordan Tanner (12.0 ppg) and Cameron Moen (11.0 ppg).
Clark, a 6-foot senior for the Wildcats, shoots 57 percent from the field and also averages 10 rebounds a night. Tanner, the Lynx point guard, has shown no fear of entering the lane either and that’s led to 8.5 rebounds per contest.