Wildcats drop first two contests of the season

HARTINGTON - The Hartington-Newcastle Wildcat basketball team dropped its first two games of the 2025-26 campaign with a 45-40 loss to Summerland on Dec. 5 and a 63-42 loss to Ponca on Dec. 4. The game with the Bobcats was in Hartington while the Wildcats traveled to Ponca.

In the game at home, a lethargic first three quarters dug a hole the ‘Cats just couldn’t quite get out of getting back to five points after trailing by 13 heading into the final quarter.

“We certainly didn’t start as we had planned. The first three quarters we did not seem like ourselves, but the fourth quarter came around and we stepped up but fell just a little short,” said Wildcat coach Tylor Fincher. “I think the biggest difference was at the free throw line and 3-point line. It is hard to win when you go 1-for-19 from beyond the arc. I have confidence the boys will put the time in the gym and get some confidence back in their shots.”

Summerland outscored HNS in all three quarters to establish the big lead 11-6 in the first, 12-9 in the second and 16-6 in the third before the Wildcats got things going in the final eight minutes.

Austin Sudbeck poured in 22 points to lead the offensive effort the Wildcats, Mason Krause tacked on nine and Will Feilmeier tossed in seven.

Sudbeck just missed a doubledouble after grabbing nine rebounds, Krause pulled down eight.

Subeck handed out four assists and joined Krause for the team lead with four steals apiece.

It was the second half which spelled doom for the ‘Cats in their home date with the Indians.

Ponca jumped out to a 16-10 lead after the opening quarter but the teams played even in the second period to send the teams to the locker room with Ponca still in front 32-26.

A 17-9 run in the third increased the advantage to 14 and the Indians coasted to the 63-42 final.

Sudbeck led the way with 10 points, Feilmeier added eight and Kelly had seven.

Hartington-Newcastle was set to take on Boyd County Dec. 9 before heading to O’Neill for a contest with St. Mary’s on Dec. 12.

HNS 6 9 6 19—40 SUM 11 12 16 6—45 HNS: Carter Kelly 0-4 0-2 0; Austin Sudbeck 10-21 2-5 22; Will Feilmeier 3-14 0-0 7; Keatyn Arens 0-2 0-0 0; Mason Krause 4-5 1-4 9; Lincoln Grutsch 0-3 0-0 0; Colton Cavanaugh 1-4 0-0 2. PON (1-0) 16 16 17 14 - 63 H-N (0-2) 10 16 9 7 - 42 HNS: Kelly 1-5 4-6 7; Sudbeck 3-17 4-5 10; Feilmeier 2-6 3-4 8; Arens 1-1 0-0 2; Krause 1-4 3-6 5; Maximus McCray 1-2 0-0 3; Grutsch 2-3 0-1 5; Cavanaugh 1-3 0-0 2.