Southwest boys hitting stride with win over Wildcats

Southwest's Hunter Blume (11) focuses in on a late free throw during the Tuesday night home win over Wallace.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

BARTLEY, Neb. — The final steal from junior Jason Day was a perfect way to finish Southwest’s 56-39 win over Wallace Tuesday.

No fewer than nine boys hit shots during their sixth double-digit win this season.

Another two delivered late clinching plays as the Roughriders (6-11 record) are surging towards their stretch run.

Southwest nearly knocked off mighty Dundy County-Stratton (16-4) last week, losing 49-47 in Benkelman.

“That’s one we probably should have won,” coach Christian Arterburn confirmed. “They were missing (top scorer Jackson) Kerchal, but I felt we played our best basketball all season.”

“And we played well tonight,” he added. “To play eight, nine or 10 guys and have nine score, you can’t ask for much more than that.”

Freshman Krayton Ruggles’ 11 points led the attack Tuesday night.

Senior Kaiden Ruggles followed with eight points, junior Hunter Blume seven, senior Cole Barnett six, junior Nathan Rippe five, sophomore Trenton Williams four and senior Hunter Cunningham two.

Cunningham leads Southwest’s offense overall at more than 11 points per contest.

Guard Barnett delivered his season-best 17 points against DC-S last week.

The ’Riders will try to keep this strong balance into Friday’s regular-season finale when 9-9 Axtell visits Bartley.

Subdistrict playoffs will then begin late next week.

“We’re playing our best at the right time, which is what you want to see,” Arterburn concluded.

The Wallace Wildcats slipped to 5-12 though junior Matt Lungrin scored a game-high 14.

N.P S.P. 65,

DC-S 60

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Dundy County-Stratton featured double-digit scorers and pushed Class D-1’s defending state champs Tuesday night.

Seniors Corbin Horner and Andrew Englot scored 13 points each. Freshman Ethan Latta tossed in 21 while senior Alex Englot added another 10.

Juniors Jackson Kerchal (seven) and Derek Noffsinger (five) finished the Tigers’ attack.

North Platte St. Patrick’s (18-2) only led 44-42 through three quarters but held off the Tigers’ final comeback attempts.