BUFFALO – Call it good defense or poor shooting, both teams had it.
But in the end, Marmaton Valley had a little more of the defense, and Altoona-Midway struggled just a little more with its shooting. As a result, the Wildcats posted a 45-35 victory over the Jets in a low-scoring Three Rivers League contest here Friday night at Milo Peterson Gymnasium.
For the second night in a row, the TRL matchup was boys only as once again the Lady Jets’ opponent was unable to field enough players for a team.
The loss dropped Altoona-Midway back to 8-8 for the season, and 3-5 in league action. Marmaton Valley improved its overall record to 11-5.
“Although we got down early, I was very proud of our team tonight. We never gave up,” said AMHS head coach Dave Vance. “We kept playing hard and kept our attitudes in check. We remained positive for the entire game, always giving ourselves a chance. Even though we lost on the scoreboard, we got better as a team tonight.”
Marmaton Valley scored the first six points before William Stackhouse hit a follow shot from the middle of the lane to get the Jets on the board. But the Wildcats proceeded to rattle off seven more points to make it 13-2, and AMHS ended up facing an uphill battle the rest of the evening.
MVHS went up 17-5 before Altoona-Midway made a short run to get back to 19-12 just before half. With the Cats leading 29-12, Chance Mustain hit a bucket, Stackhouse added a field goal and a free throw to close the gap to 29-17.
But the Wildcats pushed the lead back out to 34-19 entering the final stanza, and the Jets were never able to get closer than the final score, 45-35.
“We had to overcome a slow start, but we did manage to finish strong and make the game competitive,” Vance noted. “We missed numerous shots in close at the beginning of the game that could have kept us in it or even given us a lead, but the ball would just not cooperate.”
Stackhouse finished with a dozen points, 10 rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
“As usual, William was our leader, but several others contributed very well also, freshman Chance Mustain in particular,” Vance pointed out. “With one starter (point guard Kieran Foster) still out due to illness and three others in foul trouble all night, he only managed to get one minute of rest in the entire game.
“(Mustain) contributed seven points, but his defense and steals were more impressive. He led us in steals with five.”
Joey Lamendola chipped in eight points, Kage Beck had four, Chance Carter three and Taj Chism one. Beck, Lamendola and Carter grabbed four rebounds apiece.
“Everybody on the team played hard,” Vance reiterated. “It was a very good night, despite the loss.”
Jaeden Granere came off the bench to fire in 19 points for Marmaton Valley. He was the only Wildcat in double figures.
Altoona-Midway will face a busy schedule in the upcoming week.
Monday, the Lady Jets will face Marais Des Cygnes Valley in a girls-only contest that was not on the original schedule. Tuesday the AMHS boys and girls are slated to travel to Oswego.
Both Jet varsity squads will return home to Milo Peterson Gymnasium for back-to-back doubleheaders Thursday and Friday, hosting Southern Coffey County and Liberty Homeschool Alliance, respectively.
Friday, Feb. 14 will also be AMHS Homecoming.