×

LYNX FIGHT TO THE FINISH

Webster City boys bow out in 3A substate final, 63-50

WEBSTER CITY SENIOR TY McKINNEY hugs Lynx boys head coach Brett Ratcliff on Monday at the end of a Class 3A substate final against Sioux City Heelan in Fort Dodge. (DFJ photo by Tyler Anderson)

FORT DODGE — Brett Ratcliff knew there would be no quit in his Webster City boys.

After falling in a 10-0 hole to Sioux City Heelan here Monday night inside the Dodger gym, the Lynx battled back, only to come up short in a Class 3A substate final, 63-50.

Webster City (18-4 overall) made it a three-point game to start the fourth, erasing most of a 14-point deficit behind senior Ty McKinney.

McKinney scored a game-high 23 points, while Jayce Neuroth added 10. Briar Klaver chipped in nine with eight rebounds and Jack Larson had eight off the bench.

“These kids are all fighters,” said Ratcliff, who led WCHS to state in 2005 and is in his first season as head coach. “That was a tough hole to climb out of. We missed assignments on defense and couldn’t make open looks, but the kids didn’t hang their heads.

“They stayed in it and really made a nice run. It’s just a lot to overcome against a really good team like that.”

For the Crusaders (18-6), Matt Noll scored 19 points, Carter Kuehl added 13 with 10 rebounds and Beau Chamberlain came off the bench to score 11, including seven in the second quarter.

“We were finally able to get things going there in the second half,” Ratcliff said. “Ty, he is a gamer and I expected nothing less than that kind of a game from him. He has been in these situations before and always rises up.

“We just couldn’t hold them off.”

Down 42-39, the Lynx would get no closer than five the rest of the way, as Sioux City Heelan put together a 14-5 run as Olson and Noll combined for 17 in the final eight minutes.

McKinney sank one of his six 3-pointers with 2:25 to go to make it 51-45, but the Crusaders answered with 10 consecutive.

For McKinney, Neuroth and Jaime Grossoehme, this was the final game in a Webster City basketball uniform. The trio helped the Lynx win 30 games over the past two seasons.

“They have really been the base for everything we did this year,” Ratcliff said. “They were the leaders in practice, the leaders in games and the leaders off the court. They are all tremendous students, as well, and I hope the next guys up follow their lead.”

SIOUX CITY HEELAN 63, WEBSTER CITY 50

Webster City — Braden Doering 0 0-0 0, Jaime Grossoehme 0 0-0 0, Jayce Neuroth 4 0-1 10, Ty McKinney 6 7-8 23, Briar Klaver 4 1-1 9, Jack Larson 4 0-0 8, Trevyn Lyons 0 0-0 0. Totals: 18 8-9 50.

Sioux City Heelan — Carter Kuehl 4-4 2-2 13, Sam Skinner 3 1-2 7, Quinn Olson 3 2-3 8, Matt Noll 7 5-6 19, Sean Schaefer 2-2 1-2 5, Beau Chamberlain 3-3 3-4 11, Mason Streeter 0 0-0 0. Totals: 22 14-19 63.

Quarter scores: Sioux City Heelan led 20-9, 31-22, 42-37. Three-point goals: Webster City 6 (McKinney 4, Neuroth 2).

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.46/week.

Subscribe Today