Wildcats continue improving

The Banner County Wildcats continue to improve despite two losses last week. The Wildcats first traveled to Hay Springs for a non-conference game against the Hawks on Jan. 8.

The first quarter began with the Hawks putting up 13 points that went unanswered by the Wildcats.

In the second quarter the Wildcats were able to add three points to their side, but the Hawks offense added 21.

Coming back from half-time the Wildcats added five more while their hosts put up another 15 and the fourth quarter was much of the same with Hay Springs adding 10 to Banner County's one.

Coach Cole Wyatt found some positives in the game as well as the follow-up game in Harrisburg on Saturday against the Hemingford Bobcats. That game, too, was a loss, 54-4.

"Our conditioning was better in the games both Friday and Saturday," Wyatt said. "Something we could improve on both days is our ball handling, passing and running our offense through multiple times to achieve the best shot possible."

Banner County 0 3 5 1 – 9

Hay Springs 13 21 15 10 – 59

In the battle against Hemingford, the Wildcats pressured the ball but struggled with ball control, though their passing game was much improved, the quick Bobcats stole the ball often.

With 26 Bobcat points that went unanswered in the first quarter, the Wildcats could have given up, but the team rallied and played hard ball throughout the match.

The Banner County boys reined in their passing and had fewer turnovers in the second quarter but the second quarter ended with the board showing 39-0 to the Bobcats.

The Wildcats came back from half time with increased passing, ball pressure and steal attempts.

With just 25 seconds left in the third quarter Wildcat Brandon Blickensderfer, a 6'10" sophomore, scored the first Banner County points.

The fourth quarter was more of the same, with the Wildcats struggling to keep up with the buttoned down Bobcats. With one minute left in the game Blickensderfer got the ball and made the second two-point field goal of the game.

"High turnovers have been a constant battle for us this year we have to button down and focus in practice on bringing them down. On Saturday I was pleased with the kids' fight – they didn't give up on the game and continued to compete for the entirety of the game."

Wyatt hopes to improve the Wildcats' understanding of the game and ball handling in the coming weeks.