Lady Wildcats enter final week at #5

A pair of losses to two of 1A's top-five ranked teams has dropped the Fleming Lady Wildcats one spot. The Lady Wildcats added a win over the unranked Otis Lady Bulldogs on the road before taking back-to-back losses to McClave and Flatirons Academy last weekend.

Action opened on Thursday, Feb. 9 at Otis. Fleming opened with a two-point, 11-9, lead after the first quarter and expanded that advantage by another 12 before the close of the half, 29-15.

The Lady Wildcat offense continued to dominate in the third quarter adding another 18 points while the defense gave up just four. Otis snipped four points off the Fleming's lead in the final quarter, but the Lady Wildcats remained out in front, 51-27.

Senior Kally Kirkwood led the Lady Wildcats on the scoreboard with 10 points. She found all 10 on two-point buckets. Senior Maddy Harms followed with seven points. She earned six on two-pointers and one on a free throw.

Harms also led her team under the basket in rebounds. She brought down six total; four offensive and two defensive. Kirkwood and freshmen Ciana Lousberg and Ashley Bornhoft followed with five boards apiece.

Lousberg led in assists with four. Kirkwood led in steals with six.

The following night, the Lady Wildcats hit the road again, this time to McClave for a battle of the third ranked Lady Cardinals and the fourth ranked Lady Wildcats.

McClave jumped to an early 15-point advantage after holding the Lady Wildcats to just two points in the opening minutes of play. Fleming found their groove in the second and chipped eight points off the Cardinals' lead. The score at halftime read 29-22.

Fleming returned from intermission to continue their solid offensive efforts and brought the score within three points by the close of the third quarter, 38-35. A four-point fourth quarter for the local team coupled with a 10-point final quarter for the home team left Fleming down at the final horn. The Lady Wildcats took their fourth loss on the year, 48-39,

Kirkwood earned a double-double for the night. She scored 17 points off seven two-point shots and a single three-pointer. Under the basket, she led with 12 rebounds; three offensive and nine defensive. She also led in the steal column with five and the assist column with three.

Senior Lexi Schaefer added nine points for the Lady Wildcats. She made two, three-point shots and went three-for-four at the charity stripe. She also made a leading contribution in the steals category with three.

On Saturday night, the Lady Wildcats hosted the 1A's top-ranked Flatirons Lady Bison. The Lady Bison came out to gain a quick upper hand in the first quarter and outs cored the Lady Wildcats by seven to open, 16-9. The visiting team added another four to that advantage before the close of the half, going up 30-19.

A two-point third quarter left the home team down by 26 going into the final quarter, 47-21. Scoring evened out in the final minutes of play with the Lady Bison on top 14-13, which left them out ahead overall 61-34.

Lousberg led the Lady Wildcats on the scoreboard with 10 points. Kirkwood followed with eight.

Kirkwood matched the number in rebounds; bringing down one offensive and seven defensive. Bornhoft and senior Laney Schliesser followed with five boards apiece.

The Lady Wildcats are set to close the regular season with a home contest against the Sedgwick County Lady Cougars on Thursday, Feb. 16. Sedg. Co. holds the number six spot in 2A heading into the final week of play. Games on Thursday are set to start at 4 p.m.