BUFFALO – The Altoona-Midway High School Jets posted a pair of lopsided victories over outmanned Southern Coffey County in a make-up twinbill here Thursday evening.
The AMHS boys rolled to a 61-23 triumph over the Titans, while the Lady Jets breezed past their SCC counterparts 54-13 at Milo Peterson Gymnasium.
Ironically, both Jet squads jumped out to identical 14-0 leads in the first six minutes of their respective games, leaving little doubt about the outcome of either contest.
With the victories, Altoona-Midway evened its overall boys’ record at 9-9 for the boys, while the girls improved to 5-11.
It was Senior Night, and the six AMHS winter athletes were honored at halftime of the boys’ game. They are Kieran Foster, William Stackhouse and Joey Lamendola (boys’ basketball); Emmalynn Pupanek and Autumn Raymond (girls’ basketball) and Olivia Goodwin (cheerleading).
The Jet varsity squads were slated to return to Milo Peterson Gymnasium in 24 hours for another doubleheader on Friday, hosting Liberty Homeschool Alliance. The AMHS Homecoming is also scheduled.
AMHS BOYS
Taj Chism swished a three-pointer to open the scoring, but a majority of the Jet offense came on turnovers and fast breaks as SCC had trouble with the quick AMHS defense all night long.
Kieran Foster tossed in seven quick points and it was 14-0 before the Titans broke the ice with a drive by Isaac Higdon. The Jets went on to lead 20-4 at the quarter, 44-10 at halftime, and 55-23 entering a running-clock fourth quarter.
But scoring has also become an expected outcome – as evidenced when Stackhouse joined the exclusive 1,000-point club Thursday evening at Milo Peterson Gymnasium.
Senior William Stackhouse scored on one of his patented finger-roll layups with 7:21 left in the second quarter, which put him over the 1,000-point milestone for his four-year career at Altoona-Midway (see related story).
Stackhouse becomes only the fourth player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. He joins AMHS career scoring leader Brian Ward (1249), Jerry Jerome (1123) and Kurt Sizemore (1108) on the elite list.
Three players scored in double figures for the Jets. Stackhouse had 20 points – 18 of them in the opening half, while Foster netted a dozen before intermission and finished with 16. Meanwhile Kage Beck rattled the nets for 15 points.
All eight players suited up for AMHS found the scoring column. Chism had three, Chance Mustain, Chance Carter and Kenny Smith chipped in two each, and Nolan Lampe hit a free throw.
Cyrus Nickel led Southern Coffey County with 10 points.
AMHS GIRLS
Senior Emmalynn Pupanek set the stage early, stealing a pass and dashing for a layup 10 seconds into the game. The Lady Jets never looked back, racing to a 54-13 victory.
Altoona-Midway blanked the Lady Titans for more than six minutes to start the contest, while racing to a 14-0 lead. After a Sandra Morales bucket, Autumn Raymond rattled off seven consecutive points for the Lady Jets.
Chantal Morales drained a three-pointer to make it 14-0, and then added two more treys before the quarter as the AMHS lead ballooned to 22-1.
“We ended up making five three-pointers on the night (Jasa Pankaskie and Keyleigh Clines drained the others),” said AMHS head coach Jessica Porter. “I think that’s the most we’ve ever had in a single game.
“It was neat to see the girls having fun out there.”
The Lady Jets increased their lead to 37-6 at halftime and 50-10 entering the final period, when a running clock was utilized.
Each of the nine girls suited up for the Blue and Gold found their way into the scoring column. The Morales sisters led the way as Sandra and Chantal finished with 15 and 11 points, respectively.
Raymond scored nine, Pupanek added six, Pankaskie found the range for five, and Clines chipped in three. Ava Tindle and Brooklynn Collins netted two points each and Peyton Drake connected on a charity toss.
Cheyenne Dyke and Emily Ludolph scored five points apiece for the Lady Titans.