Boys: Potter-Dix Downs Banner County

The Wildcats dominated at the start, jumping out to a 12-3 first quarter lead over Potter-Dix on Saturday. Ball control was an issue for both teams but, after the early jitters the game settled into a tense, back and forth struggle.

Banner County hung onto one point leads at the end of both the second and third quarters.  However, there was a noticeable momentum change in the fourth.

“They persisted and they didn’t give up,” Coyotes head coach Phil Hoyt said of his team. Thanks to sharp passing by his teammates, Ty Ottoson found lanes to the hoop and accounted for nearly half of the Coyotes points. Potter-Dix pulled away at the end with a hard fought 45 to 40 victory.

Still, Hoyt was impressed by the Wildcats intensity.

“It was a real tough game and Banner County is a real tough team,” he said.  “They came out and jumped on us, so we had to do some adjustments.”



Girls: Last Second Shot Dooms Wildcats

After managing only four points in the first quarter, the Coyotes looked to be handing the game to the visiting Banner County Wildcats.  Add to that the fact that the Cats were playing very well.

The second quarter was more of the same, ending with Banner County taking a 27 to 14 lead into the half.

But Coyotes head coach Jeff Einspahr made necessary adjustments during the break and spPotter Dix came out a different team as the second half started--defense, more intense, offense, more refined, even an effective full court press at times.

However, when Jessica Bruce hit first of two free throws with 7.4 seconds it looked as if the Wildcats would sneak out of the gym with a one point victory.

But someone forgot to tell Amanda Maas.

With 2.6 seconds left on the clock, Maas took an inbound pass around the free throw line, turned an split the bottom of the net as time expired.

Potter-Dix 40, Banner County 39--and stunned.

“It’s early in the season, so there are a lot of things we’re going to be working on, correct and adjust,” said a disappointed Wildcats head coach Brittney Cooper moments after the thriller ended.

Coyote’s assistant coach, Amy Rozelle was naturally more upbeat.

“The game was so exciting,” she said. “We really kicked it into gear during the third and fourth quarter, finally.  We lost last night by one point, so to win by one point tonight--heart attack.”

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the game was the sportsmanship displayd by both teams, even ending with all the girls in a circle of prayer at center court.