WP boys drop games against Hitchcock County, Southwest

    Whether against a team from the East division or West division, the RPAC conference wasn’t kind to the Wauneta-Palisade boys’ basketball team last week.
    The Broncos took on West division foe Hitchcock County (6-4) Friday in Trenton.
    Aidan Kennicutt scored WP’s only basket of the first quarter and Grant Walker the only basket of the second quarter. Added to a second quarter free throw by Ruel Malcolm, WP trailed 5-34 at halftime.
    Two baskets by Kennicutt accounted for the Broncos’ four third quarter points. Jacksen Littrel drained a three pointer in the fourth quarter for WP.
    The Broncos lost the game 56-12.
    WP fared slightly better the next night at home against the RPAC East division’s Southwest (4-7).
    Malcolm started the Broncos off with two free throws, followed with a bucket by Robert Hanna. A three pointer by Walker gave WP a 7-5 lead with just under two minutes left in the first quarter. Southwest closed the quarter on a 8-2 run, leaving the Broncos trailing 9-13 at the end of the first.
    WP stayed cold for the first 4:30 of the second quarter, but Southwest wasn’t able to take advantage. The Broncos only trailed 10-15 with three minutes left in the quarter. Hanna traded a basket with the Roughriders, leaving WP trailing 12-20 at halftime.
    Neither team gained much offensive momentum in the third quarter. Laiden Lawler and Ashton Wheeler came off the bench to score all six of WP’s points. Allowing only seven points to Southwest, WP trailed 18-27 heading into the final stanza.
    Both teams had their best offensive quarters of the game in the fourth.
    Southwest started the quarter with eight-straight points before a Lawler three pointer stopped the run. Over the game’s final four minutes WP outscored Southwest 12-8 with baskets by Wheeler, Hanna, Littrel, Malcolm and Kennicutt.
    Hanna led WP with eight points in the 45-33 loss. Lawler added seven points.
Up next
    Perkins County (7-3) will be in Wauneta Friday for a game against the Broncos. WP will travel to Garden County (4-6) Saturday.
    After a game with Paxton Jan. 20, the RPAC tournament will begin Jan. 22 with first round games being played at Hayes Center.