Lady Wildcats defeat Peetz & Prairie; fall in close one to Briggsdale

Fleming's Lady Wildcats took two league wins over the past week before falling to the undefeated Lady Falcons of Briggsdale on Monday evening.

The Lady Wildcats traveled last Tuesday, Feb. 16, to Peetz where they sailed to a smooth victory over the Lady Bulldogs.

Fleming opened with 32 points in the first quarter alone. They continued to add double digits to the scoreboard in each quarter while holding the home team to single digits. The game closed at a score of 81-17.

Four Lady Wildcats provided double-digit performances. Senior Kendyl Kirkwood led the campaign with 22 points. She shot 69 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line.

Freshman Madi Serrato followed with a total tally of 21. She sunk three three-point shots, five for two points apiece and earned a free-throw percentage of 67 after making two for three.

Junior Whitney Chintala scored 13 points. She shot 78 percent from the charity stripe for seven of her points and made three shots for two points each.

Sophomore Lexi Schaefer added 11 points on the road at Peetz. She added hers by way of four free throws, two two-pointers and one shot for three.

Three players brought down game-high numbers in rebounds. Kirkwood, along with junior Sam Pope and sophomore Maddy Harms each grabbed nine boards.

On Saturday, Feb. 20, Fleming hosted the Prairie Lady Mustangs and earned a league victory by a score of 56-23.

Kirkwood again led her team on the scoreboard with 22 points. She shot 71 percent from the field, sinking 10 of 14 two-point shots, and went 100 from the free-throw line making two for two.

Serrato also double digits for the night with 13 points. She shot 100 percent from the charity stripe for five points and added the remaining eight off two-pointers.

Chintala tallied 12 points. She made four free throws and four two-point field goals.

Kirkwood led under the basket in boards with nine. She grabbed four offensive and five defensive rebounds.

On Monday, Feb. 22, the Lady Wildcats hosted the undefeated Briggsdale Lady Falcons for a league contest. Briggsdale led by a single a point after the opening quarter, 15-14. Fleming's offense tallied 20 points in the second quarter while the defense held the visiting team to 12 and the Lady Wildcats took a 34-27 lead.

The two teams matched scores in the third quarter at seven points each, which left Fleming on top by seven heading into the final quarter.

The Lady Falcons fought their way back to even the score and eventually take the win in the final minutes of play. After adding 21 points and holding the Lady Wildcats to nine, Briggsdale walked away maintaining their perfect season, 55-50.

Serrato led on the scoreboard for the night. She tallied 17 points after sinking five of eight from behind the three-point arc and one two-point field goal.

Chintala followed with 16 points. She earned hers off one three-pointer, five two-point shots and three free throws.

Kirkwood also hit double digits on the scoreboard with 12. She made three shots for two points apiece and went six for six from the charity stripe.

The week's action puts the Lady Wildcats at 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the North Central League. Five games remain on their schedule before Regionals.

This week's agenda brings Stratton/Liberty, Sedgwick County and Flatirons Academy to Fleming's court for Friday, Saturday and Tuesday contests. Friday's games against Stratton/Liberty are set to start at 4 p.m. Saturday brings games with Sedgwick County starting at 2 p.m. and Tuesday's game with Flatirons is slated for 5 p.m.