State-rated Ponca spoils Lady Cats season opener
PONCA — Hartington-Newcastle took a short drive over to Ponca Dec. 1 to take on the Lady Indians in Lewis & Clark basketball action.
A great second quarter made the evening promising for the Lady Wildcats, but Ponca pulled away in the second half to claim a 47-33 victory.
After falling behind 12-6 after the first quarter, the Lady Wildcats got things going in the second frame.
Hartington-Newcastle poured in 17 points in the second and went to the locker room trailing the Lady Indians by the first-quarter advantage of only six points.
Ponca added six points to the lead in the third and another bucket advantage in the final stanza to come away with the 14-point win.
McKenzie Bruning was the lone Lady Wildcat in double figures with 10 points on the evening on 4-of-6 shooting from the field.
She also led the team with seven rebounds.
Alivia Morten added nine points and grabbed three boards, Zoey Gratzfeld chipped in six points and had four rebounds.
The Lady Indians’ Gracen Evans led all scorers with 15 points, Ashlyn Kingsbury contributed nine.
Hartington-Newcastle was set to take on Humphrey St. Francis in the Lady Wildcats’ home opener Dec. 6. The Lady Flyers brought a 2-0 record into the contest.
St. Francis defeated Palmer 7824 and Heartland Lutheran 78-21 to open their season.
HNS will travel to Pierce Dec. 10 to battle the Lady Bluejays before coming back home Dec. 13 to take on the Tri County Northeast Wolfpack.
HNS 6 17 6 4—33 Ponca 12 17 12 6—47 HNS Ponca FG 13-26 13-24 FT 1-3 2-10 3PT 2-5 1-9 Reb 26 20
SCORING
HNS - M Bruning, 10; Alivia Morten, 9; Zoey Gratzefeld, 6; Olivia Grutsch, 4; Mani Lange, 2; Kennadi Peitz, 2. Ponca Gracen Evans, 15; A. Kingsbury, 9; Abby Hrouda, 4; Aixz Hughes, 2; T. Peterson, 1.
REBOUNDS
HNS - M. Bruning, 7; Zoey Gratzfeld, 4; Olivia Grutsch, 3; Alivia Morten, 3; Mani Lange, 3; Maddie Steffen, 2; Kennadi Peitz, 2; Lauren Howelle, 2. Ponca - Gracen Evans, 8; Abbie Hrouda, 4; A. Kingsbury, 4; Aix Hughes, 3; Julian Buckles, 1.