Wildcats take thirdplace at Stanton Holiday Tournament

STANTON — The Hartington-Newcastle offense received a boost of confidence in the consolation finals of the Stanton Holiday Tournament here Dec. 29 as they turned away the host Mustangs 52-28 after dropping a tough-opening round match up with undefeated Lutheran High Northeast.

“We shot the ball with a lot more confidence and it showed,” Wildcat coach Tylor Fincher said. “Our two starting guards hit seven 3-pointers between them.”

Cole Heimes and Cole Rosener combined for the seven long balls and each finished with a team-high 14 points. Dayton Sudbeck added 11 and Riley Sudbeck tossed in seven.

The offense also provided a defensive spark as the Wildcats held the Mustangs to a single point in the second quarter and only sev en the entire first half.

“Our defense played with a lot more focus and energy the entire game,” Fincher said. “I was really happy to see that happen.”

While the defense was shutting down the Stanton offense in the fi rst half, Heimes, Rosener and company were stretching the lead out to 10 after the first eight minutes and 28-7 at the intermission.

The lead grew to 26 after the third frame before settling on th e 52-28 final score.

Hartington-Newcastle was set to be back in action Jan. 2 in a t rip to Bloomfield to take on the Bees.

January 5 will find the Wildcats back at home to take on the Wil dcats of Winside. HNS will then host another foe Jan. 9 when Niobrara/ Verdigre comes to town.

H-N (3-6) 16 12 15 9 - 52 STA (1-8) 6 1 10 11 - 28 HARTINGTON-NEWCASTLE: Jason Heimes 0-1 0-0 0; Cole Heimes 5-13 0-0 14; Dayton Sudbeck 4-10 3-4 11; Austin Sudbeck 0-1 2-2 2; Carter Kelly 0-3 0-0 0; Keatyn Arens 0-1 1-2 1; Cole Rosener 5-11 1-2 14; Ayden Rosener 0-4 0-0 0; Brayden Lammers 1-4 1-3 3; Mason Krause 0-2 0-0 0; Riley Sudbeck 2-10 2-4 7; Lincoln Grutsch 0-1 0-0 0.