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Friday night's basketball game at Claflin pitting St. John against Central Plains certainly wasn't for the faint of heart. With the Lady Tigers behind by one with 1:32 left on the clock, St. John came from behind and scored the last eight points in a barn burner for the win 47-40.
With a 12-6 lead going into the second quarter and at one time ahead by thirteen, it looked as if the Tigers were going to pull a away and clinch the game, but it didn't happen.
For more about Friday's game, be sure to read the full article in the this week's St. John News.
Kudos go to the Western Plains Bobcats fans and players. You would think that knowing their basketball team was going to get womped by St. John once they arrived here, there wouldn't be much reason for making the long 109 mile trip. Boy, was I surprised when the Western Plains faithful almost filled their side of the bleachers last Tuesday. There wasn't any “gloom and doom”, or at least I didn't see any. The fans were actually glad to be here watching basketball and giving all the support they could muster to their Lady Bobcats, no mater how wide St. John's lead was. Same thing with their players. When they came out on the court, all I could see were smiles.
In last week's girls basketball action, the Cunningham girls shocked fifth ranked Norwich, defeating the Eagles in overtime 51-48. Just a few weeks ago, Norwich was ranked #1 in 1A (Div. II).
Another major shocker was the Medicine Lodge's girls victory over perennial power Cheney 55-42. (Earlier, the Tigers defeated Medicine in Pratt's Tournament of Champions.)
South Central gave Kinsley their fourth straight defeat in the last two weeks. However, in all fairness to the Coyotes, three of their loses were to ranked teams – Pratt-Skyline, South Central and Spearville, the Lancers thumped them 56-26 Friday night. Spearville could be a major contender for the 1A (Div. I) girls basketball crown.
Last Tuesday, Central Plains clobbered Otis-Bison 56-38. (The Cougars will be St. John's last regular season basketball game, the game played on Tuesday, Feb. 21st.)
Macksville's Lady Mustangs lost two last week, a close one to La Crosse 43-46 last Tuesday and to Victoria last Friday 33-45. Victoria was formerly rank #8 in 1A (Div. II) The Tigers will be playing the Knights on Friday, Feb. 10th which is St. John's homecoming.
Speaking of Div. II, I goofed in an earlier blog, listing the Hutch Central girls as 1A Div. I. They're 1A Div. II.
Lastly, I have never seen so many “traveling calls” on both sides as I did during Friday's girls and boys basketball games at Claflin. Its either got to be a record or at least coming close.
For more area girls basketball, click on the “blogs” button at the top of the page, then go to “Ragan's Roosts”.
