Wellington basketball teams finally get back on the hardwood with Augusta sweep
Nolan Russell leads Wellington with 17 points.
Britt Zeka leads Wellington with 14 points.
Update, Thursday: Wellington-Augusta boys stats are here: Wellington vs. Augusta, Feb. 1, 2024
By Tracy McCue, Sumner Newscow — It has been 10 days, but the Wellington boys’ and girls’ teams got back on the hardwood for a game. The boys defeated the Orioles 49-42 while the girls won 64-34 for the sweep.
“It’s been a while,” said Joe Newman, Wellington’s head boys basketball coach. “We haven’t beaten Augusta since 2011-12. That was back when Ryan Jenkins, Taylan Ybarra, Levi Gurley, Payton Baker, and Parker Daugherty were playing.”
The Crusaders have been off for 10 days and haven’t been home since Jan. 15. The last time the Crusader boys were on the hardwood was against Conway Springs for third place in the Chaparral Roadrunner Tournament Classic.
Wellington, which led throughout the game, staved off a late Augusta rally. Logan Ruddle, who scored 17 points for Augusta, nailed a 3-pointer with 4:10 to play, narrowing the margin to one. But Nolan Russell, who scored 17 points for the Red and Silver, hit a short 8-footer to up the lead to 44-40 with 2:12 to play. He would then hit two critical free throws with 34 seconds to play and Wellington secured the win.
Grady Norris vs. Augusta.
Augusta would miss on its final five offensive possessions. That always helps.
The Orioles, usually a basketball power, is struggling this season, coming into the game at 5-7. They lost to Mulvane, Wellington’s nemesis, 38-35 on Monday night.
The Crusaders opened with a 9-3 first-quarter lead and then saw the Orioles tie the game at half after being outscored 14-8 in the second quarter. The Crusaders found their offense in the third quarter, getting 18 points, six of those from Ayers. That led to the exciting fourth quarter. Wellington was 5-of-8 from the free throw line down the stretch.
The Crusaders were without their leading scorer Carter Burnett, who was out again for an internal personnel matter. Brody Weir would score 10 and Morice Ayers 8. Wellington now travels to Circle next Tuesday. Those two teams had quite the year last season so it will be interesting to see them in a rematch.
Wellington 49 Augusta 42
Augusta — 3 14 10 15 — 42
Wellington — 9 8 18 14 — 49
Augusta: Ruddle 17, Kiser 11, Blackwell 5, Haskey 4, Albert 3, Pfeifer 2. Total: 14 (3) 5-5 42. Wellington: Russell 17, Weir 10, Ayers 8, Bannister 5, G. Norris 5, Glenn 4. Total: 18 (1) 10-16 49.
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Valerie Norwood vs. Augusta.
The Wellington girls picked up where they last left off with an easy win over Augusta. The girls opened with a 19-5 first-quarter lead and was up 38-11 at the half.
Wellington would outscore Augusta 26-23 in the second half for the 30-point victory.
Ella Goodrum had a career varsity high, scoring 10 points in the game. Britt Zeka led all scorers with 14 and Lyndi Barton had 11.
The Crusaders travel to Circle on Tuesday in what will be a huge battle for the Class 4A-West top seed. Wellington is 13-1 and the top seed while Circle is 9-3 and the third seed. McPherson, which beat Circle on Monday 40-25, is currently 10-3.
Wellington 64 Augusta 34
Augusta — 5 6 11 12 — 34
Wellington — 19 19 15 11 — 64
Augusta:Ra Pfeifer 9, Em Bourm 6, El Bourm 4, M. Fleming 4, G. Belnap 3, E. Brundege 2, A. Fleming 1. Total 7 (5) 5-7 34. Wellington: B. Zeka 14, Barton 11, Goodrum 10, Cornejo 8, Norwood 8, D. Zeka 6, Rusk 3, Wright 2. Total: 23 (5) 3-4 64.
