Fleming seeks first season victories on home court this weekend

The Fleming Wildcats are off to a rocky start to this year's basketball season suffering two losses in the final two outings of the 2024 portion of the year. They stand at 0-6 before entering contests against the South Platte Blue Knights out of Big Springs, Neb., and the Otis Bulldogs this week.

Fleming played a close contest at Caliche on Friday, Dec. 20. They trailed by two after the first quarter and by seven at the half, but brought it back to a two-point contest in the third quarter. The Wildcat defense shut the Buffaloes down to just five points in the third while the offense upped the tally by 11 points to bring the score to 28-27, Caliche. Although the Wildcats kept pace with Caliche in the fourth, they fell short at the final horn and the score settled at 43-40.

Senior Travis Johnson earned a double-double for the night after bringing down 27 rebounds and scoring 11 points. Johnson's board tally hit double digits in both the offensive and defensive columns with 12 and 15, respectively. He also contributed team-high numbers in assists, steals and blocks with three in each category.

Sophomore Conner Marchant led on the scoreboard with 14 points. He scored 12 points on two-point field goals and two from the charity stripe.

Saturday, Dec. 21, brought Fleming back to their home court for a contest against Arickaree that would close the 2024 part of this year's basketball season. The Bison held the Wildcats in the single digits on the scoreboard for the first and second quarters, giving up just 11 to the home team in the first half. The Bison offense out up 30 on their side of the scoreboard.

Fleming topped Arickaree in the third quarter, 11-8, but let the Bison back in, 12-10, in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats fell 50-32 at the final horn.

Johnson led his team on the scoreboard with 10 points for the night. He also contributed six rebounds; all of those defensive.

Sophomore Treyson Kirkwood led the Wildcats in rebounds with seven total. He brought down three offensive and four defensive boards while also contributing nine points on offense.

Marchant followed on the scoreboard with eight points and brought down six defensive rebounds.

Heading into this weekend's home contests, Kirkwood leads the team in points per game with 7.7. The team as whole is averaging 34 points per outing.

Johnson currently leads the squad in rebounds, averaging 11.7 per game, over one-third of the team's total average of 32.6.

The Wildcats are set to go up against the South Platte Blue Knights from Oshkosh, Neb. on Friday. The Blue Knights enter at 4-5 overall averaging almost 50 points per game. Two quarters of boys' junior varsity is set to tip off at 4 p.m. followed by girls' varsity and boys' varsity.

On Saturday night, the Wildcats host the Otis Bulldogs. Otis stood at 2-2 overall at the beginning of the week. They currently average just over 50 points per game. A boys' JV contest is set for 1 p.m. followed by girls' and boys' varsity action.