WCHS Wildcats, Ladycats Win District Tourney Championship

Both the Wayne County High School Wildcats and Ladycats captured the 11A District Tournament Championships on Saturday against the host teams, Perry County. They both took semi-final wins against Frank Hughes on Friday to advance to the finals. The 'Cats came away with the 46 – 42 overtime win, while the Ladycats won 59 – 41. The 'Cats won their 20th game of the season and stand at 20 – 9 going into region action. The Ladycats are now 25 – 5 on the year. Both teams will face the fourth-place teams from District 12A.

Against Frank Hughes, the Ladycats opened on a 9 - 0 run in the first two minutes and forty-five seconds, as the Lady Lions turned the ball over 4 times. They led 20 – 6 at the end of the quarter, forcing 12 first quarter turnovers. The lead was 34 – 18 at the half and increased early in the third as they went on an 11 – 0 run, supported by 5 Adaline Odle points. The Ladycats were led by Mary-Grace Littleton with 17 points. She had 2 boards and 3 assists. Presley Daniel had 14 points, 2 rebounds, 5 steals, and 3 assists. Kate Brison hit for 12 points with a pair of 3's and had 2 steals and 2 assists. Ava Ashley had 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals, and 6 assists. Adaline Odle finished with 5 third quarter points with 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 assists. Kaybree Carroll had 3 points with a rebound, 4 steals, and an assist. Izzie Scaife hit 2 free throws and 2 rebounds. Emma Green, Kinsley Miller, and Carleigh Labombard each had a rebound, and Kylei Thompson had a steal. The Ladycats forced 25 turnovers.

The Wildcats took a 12 – 5 lead after slow tempo first quarter. They upped the margin to 20, 33 – 13 by the half, on the way to a 22-point win, 55 – 33. Drew Baugus led the way with 16 points off the bench, including 3 three-point goals. He had 4 boards, a steal, and an assist. Logan Davis had 9 points with 2 boards and 8 assists. Nate Bevis and Cayman Camfield had 8 points. Bevis grabbed 4 rebounds and had a steal and an assist. Camfield had 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Case Butler and Caysen Mosley each scored 4 points. Butler had 5 rebounds, and Mosley had a rebound and a block. Kace Bryant and Warren Camfield each hit a 3. Bryant had a steal, while Camfield had an assist. Kyler Self had a rebound. The 'Cats had 15 assists on 19 made baskets.

The Ladycats got off to slow start against the Lady Vikings in the championship game. A Kaybree Carroll steal and layup to close the first quarter tied the game at 11 all. In the second period they turned up the defensive pressure, holding the Lady Vikings to only 3, to take the 24 – 14 halftime lead. Ava Ashley went to work in the third, scoring 9 in the quarter to up the margin to 41 – 20. They took the win, 50 – 29. Ashley finished with 23 points, 3 boards, and 2 steals. She was named the MVP of the tourney and MVP on the All-District team. Presley Daniel also hit in double-figures with 12points. She had 6 boards, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and 5 assists. Mary-Grace Littleton had 8 points with a rebound, while Kate Brison added 3 points, 3 rebounds, a steal, and an assist. Kaybree Carroll and Adaline Odle each had 2 points. Carroll had 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Odle had 3 boards, a block, and 2 assists. Carleigh Labombard, Emma Green, Kinsley Miller, Izzie Scaife, and Kylei Thompson each had a rebound. The Ladycats hit 50% from the field, and won the rebounding battle, 25 – 18.

The Wildcats managed 11 points in the first quarter against the Vikings, with Cayman Camfield hitting 2 three- point goals and Kace Bryant adding one 3 and a 2-point basket. They trailed by 3, 14 – 11. At halftime, the margin increased to 27 – 20. The Wildcats fought back in the third. Cayman Camfield stole the ball with 6:20 on the third quarter clock and went for a lay-up to make it 27 all. On the next possession, he hit a 3 to put the 'Cats up 30- 27. The score went back and forth. With 2.6 seconds left in the third, Camfield got fouled and went to the line and made 2 free throws to put the 'Cats up 36 – 35. The game slowed down in the fourth. Perry County took the lead, 40 -38. The 'Cats took a time out with 19 seconds left. They ran a play to go inside, and freshman Caysen Mosley laid it in with 2.8 left to tie the game at 40 all, sending the game to overtime. In the overtime. Cayman Camfield hit a basket to take the lead, but a Wayne County foul sent Perry County to the line for 2 free throws. The shots tied it at 42. Caysen Mosley again hit a shot to give the 'Cats the lead, 44 – 42, then he took a charge to give the Cats the ball back. They ran an out of bounds play in which Cayman Camfield sprinted down the court for a “snowbird” lay-up to make the margin 4. Perry County went for a 3, but it was no good. Camfield secured the rebound and the championship as time ran out. Cayman led the 'Cat with 22 points. He had 5 boards, a block, 2 steals, and 2 assists. He nailed 3 three-point goals and was named Tourney MVP. Kase Bryant finished with 8 points and had a steal and 2 assists. Caysen Mosley had 6 points, 3 rebounds, and a block, while Nate Bevis and Logan Davis each scored 5 points. Bevis had a rebound and an assist, and Davis had a rebound, a steal, and 6 assists. Drew Baugus had 2 boards, a block, and an assist, while Case Butler had 2 rebounds, a block, and an assist. The 'Cats shot 58.6% from the field.

Support the teams through their tourney play. “GO WILDCATS AND LADYCATS!”---Submitted by Susan Gallian