Wildcats, Wolves split in Winfield

WINFIELD - It was the tale of two games on Friday night in Winfield. The Winfield-Mt. Union girls dominated the girls game 59-16, and the Columbus boys pulled out a thriling win in the boys game, 61-64, earning the Wildcats their first win of the season.

It was all W-MU in the girls game. The Wolves outscored Columbus 20-1 in the first quarter, led 36-5 at halftime and held a 54-9 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Wildcats took the fourth quarter 7-5.

W-MU was led by a 13-point performance from Kyndal Townsley. Keetyn Townsley added 10 points to join her sister in double-digits.

Keely Malone scored nine points tof the Wolves. Jami Wilkerson had eight points and six assists. Farrah Nelson scored seven points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Melina Oepping and Bradie Buffington scored four points each. Ali Cockerham and Anna Anderson had two points apiece.

W-MU led the boys game 19-16 after the first quarter. They held a 35-34 lead at halftime and it was 52-51 after three quarters.

Columbus turned it on in the fourth, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Wildcats outscored the Wolves 13-9 in the fourth period, holding the Wolves to single digits for the first time all game.

Eric Valdez absolutely went off for Columbus. The Wildcat senior willed his team to their first win with 38 points on 13-for-23 shooting. He also drained four three-pointers in the game and went a perfect 8-for-8 from beyon the 3-point line.

Brody Fost went 3-for-5 from deep and finished the night with 11 points. Jaime Villegas had six points and eight rebounds. Evan Rees finished with three points nad 11 rebounds. Mason Hodges and Bawi UK each scored three points as well.