Junior high squads split games with Newcastle
A big lead nearly slipped away Monday, but Kingfisher’s eighth grade basketball team held on to beat Newcastle 39-37 at the APB.
The one-possession game appeared headed for a blowout - or at least a comfortable - win for the Jackets in the early stages.
Kingfisher led 26-15 at halftime, but the Racers’ pressure and a seemingly shrinking basket made that lead nearly disappear.
Still, Kingfisher led by nine points entering the fourth, but couldn’t cushion its lead at the free throw line. The Jackets were just 2 of 13 from the charity stripe for the game.
Fortunately, they shot better everywhere else, including going 7 of 15 from 3-point range.
Matthew Mecklenburg buried five of those treys and led the team with 16 points and also had a teamhigh three steals.
Maddox Jarvis made both of his 3-point attempts and scored 12 points.
Kingfisher also got nine points, seven rebounds and six assists from Lucas Conrady.
The Jackets upped their season record to 5-3.
7th grade boys
Newcastle managed to pull away from the KMS seventh graders for a 35-20 win.
The Jackets and Racers were tied after a quarter, but the visitors took a threepoint lead into halftime.
That margin steadily grew in the second half, including an 8-1 run in the final quarter.
Kingfisher was led by Jackson Willbanks’ 10 points.
Jhett Birdwell added eight and Cale Reagan scored two.
The loss dropped the team to 5-3.
8th grade girls
The junior high girls’ teams made the trip to Newcastle, one that was highlighted by the eighth grade Lady Jackets’ 37-13 victory.
Kingfisher led by just three points at halftime, but allowed just three second-half points.
That included outscoring Newcastle 11-0 in the fourth quarter.
Kynli Boeckman led all scorers with 16 points. She scored eight points when KMS went on a 13-3 third-quarter run.
Raegan Snider added nine points while Kadyn Daugherty scored seven and Addison Willson five.
The win upped the team’s record to 4-2.
7th grade girls
Newcastle got the best of the seventh grade KMS girls, 35-9.
Kingfisher was paced by Jancee Matthews’ six points.
Alyssa Clayton scored two and Gracie Rowan one.