Wellington basketball teams get back on the hardwood: girls win, boys lose
Sumner Newscow report — The Wellington basketball teams got back on the hardwood Friday night for important Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. 4 showdowns with Mulvane.
The No. 3 ranked Wellington girls picked up where they last left off with a 56-37 victory over the Wildcats, while the boys lost another close one to Mulvane 53-45.
The Lady Dukes improved to 8-0 and is currently in the No. 1 seed of the Class 4A-West standings at the moment with only St. George-Rock Creek (6-0) undefeated amongst 16 teams (see standings here). This means if Wellington continues to win it would have a home-court advantage in the postseason.
Wellington has a huge game looming next Friday when it travels to Clearwater. The Indians are currently 5-1. The Crusaders were supposed to host Collegiate Tuesday but that game has been postponed as Collegiate girls are fighting COVID at the moment. That game will be rescheduled at a later date according to Wellington Activities Director Luke Smith.
On Friday, after a 17-day Christmas break layover, Wellington got back to business by beating Mulvane — nearly duplicating its 57-41 season-opening non-league game in December, also played at home.
Wellington built a 17-8 first-quarter lead and held a 28-17 advantage at the half. The Crusaders outscored the Wildcats 19-8 in the third quarter to lead 47-25 going into the fourth.
The Crusaders were led by freshman Britt Zeka who had 16 points. Kami Reichenberger and Airalyn Frame both had 11.
Wellington had just three 3-pointers in this game, which is low for the Crusaders. But not as low as Mulvane, which had none. Wellington was 17-of-25 from the free-throw line.
Wellington 56 Mulvane 37
Mulvane – 8 9 8 12 — 37
Wellington – 17 11 19 9 — 56
Mulvane: Garrison 16, Kanaga 12, Young 4, Nolan 3, Young 2. Total: 14 (0) 9-14 37. Wellington: B. Zeka 16, Reichenberger 11, Frame 11, A. Zeka 8, Norwood 5, Nance 4, Gerten 2, Cornejo 2. Total: 15 (3) 17-25 56.
The Wellington boys’ two-game winning streak came to an end when Mulvane came to town and beat the Crusaders for the second time this season.
Unlike the first game that ended on a heartbreaking buzzer-beater, this one wasn’t as close. Mason Lough, who made the game-winning shot in December, did not play Friday.
However, Mulvane had plenty of other help. Sophomore Kaiden Abasolo would score 18 points while Landon Coe and Ian Comer scored 15 points apiece to help the Cats to victory. Only four players scored for the Cats.
Wellington was led by Korbin Jones who scored 18 points for Wellington.
“We got off to a slow start and never recovered,” said Wellington head boys coach Joe Newman. “We got the game within three late, but couldn’t get over the hump.”
Newman continues:
“Ian Comer continues to be a force in the league for Mulvane. He’s been on a tear lately and put up 17 points and 10 rebounds. Korbin Jones played really well last night and put up a career-high.
We have Collegiate coming to town. We must come out of the gates ready to play.”
Wellington was cold to start the game, falling behind 11-6 and trailing 24-15 at the half.
Crusaders would narrow the margin to four in the third with a 13-9 output, but Mulvane outscored Wellington 20-17 in the fourth thanks in part to 12 free throws in the final stanza alone, eight of them by Abasolo.
Wellington now hosts Collegiate on Tuesday, before traveling to Clearwater. Wellington is currently 3-5 and 1-2 in the Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League Div. IV.
Mulvane 53 Wellington 45
Mulvane – 11 13 9 20 — 53
Wellington – 6 9 13 17 — 45
Mulvane: Abasolo 18, Coe 15, Comer 15, McKee 5. Total: 14 (3) 16-22 53. Wellington: Jones 18, Tate 13, Clift 6, Henry 4, Hinshaw 3, Rogers 1. Total: 15 (2) 9-16 45.
In junior varsity and C team games:
JV girls: Wellington 36 Mulvane 14. K Kessler 9, Metcalf 8, Goodrum 7, Westmoreland 4, Parkey 3, Cornejo 3, and Aufdengarten 2.
JV boys: Wellington 52 Mulvane 50. Burnett 14, Rogers 12, Bannister 7, Henry 5, Weir 4, Glenn 3, Giefer 3, Ayers 2, Branam 1.
C boys: Wellington 68 Mulvane 34. Ayers 17, Branam 11, Burnett 10, Bannister 9, A. Norris 5, Tencleve 3, G. Norris 3, J. Norris 2, Giefer 2, Helpingstine 2, Buchanan 2.
