Wildcats Flying High after Taking Down Glasgow 71-64, Box Elder 93-73
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Senior Daniel Lawrence scores a fourth quarter basket in the Wildcats 73-63 win over the Bears.
The Harlem Wildcats are finally starting to get healthy and it is showing in the win column. After starting the year with a new roster nearly every time they took the court, Head Coach Geno LeValdo and his Wildcats are starting to find their rhythm.
The Wildcats were in Glasgow Friday night for an important District 2B test with the Scotties. The teams tested each other early but in the end it was the Wildcats pulling out a 71-64 win. Saturday Harlem returned home to take on the Box Elder Bears in a non-conference clash in front of the hometown crowd. The Wildcats used a big fourth quarter effort to turn a slim five point lead into a 93-73 win.
Friday in Glasgow the Wildcats took some time to get situated, but maintained control of the flow of the game. Senior Teagan LeValdo knocked down a first quarter triple to stretch the defense and senior RJ Ramone was steady with four points providing the spark Harlem needed to take an early 15-12 lead.
Both offenses were scoring but the defense seemed to control the tempo in a back and forth first half. Senior Daniel Lawrence was a welcomed return to the lineup and scored five second quarter points, including a long triple to maintain the Wildcat attack. The Wildcats would give a point back to the Scotties before the break and took a 25-23 lead into intermission.
Ramone ignited the Wildcat offense in the third quarter with a long three and 10 points. Senior Deshon Shambo scored seven in the frame and connected from down town and LeValdo drained his second triple of the contest. Harlem exploded for 26 points in the third quarter, but the Scotties answered with 24 sending the teams to the fourth quarter with Harlem holding a slim 51-47 advantage.
Harlem is a very experienced group and it showed down the stretch. The Wildcats attack remained steady and didn't allow the Scotties many opportunities to narrow the gap. Lawrence connected once again from long range, Ramone added a couple of buckets and LeValdo scored seven down the stretch to secure a hard fought 71-64 win over the Scotties.
LeValdo paced the Wildcat attack with 19 points in the win. Ramone was again solid, scoring 18 on the night while Shambo finished with 11. Lawrence scored 10 in his return.
Saturday the Wildcats had their running shoes on as they welcomed the up tempo Box Elder Bears to town in what would be an exciting non-conference tilt. If your a fan of up and down the court action, the long ball and fast paced action, this was the game for you.
The Wildcats did it all early on getting a couple of triples from senior Daniel Lawrence as well as a pair from senior RJ Ramone and senior DeShon Shambo. Harlem scored 24 points in the opening frame to take a five point lead into the second quarter. Lawrence connected twice more before the half, and Ramone scored seven to help the Wildcats extend their lead to eight, 47-39 by intermission.
Harlem senior Teagan LeValdo knocks one down from beyond the arc Saturday afternoon against Box Elder.
After the break both teams seemed to dial it back a bit, but neither had much trouble scoring. Harlem was limited to just 17 points in the frame getting six more from Ramone and a long ball from Henry and senior Teagan LeValdo. Box Elder scored 20 and cut the lead back to five, 64-59 with eight minutes remaining.
Harlem finished with a flurry lighting the scoreboard up for 29 points down the stretch while limiting the Bears to just 14. Ramone and Henry each finished with 28 points in the win. Henry connected on six from beyond the arc and Ramone four.
The Wildcats will be on the road for a pair of games this weekend. Thursday the team will travel to Malta to challenge the top seeded Mustangs. Saturday the Wildcats will again head east, this time to Poplar to square off with the Indians. With the post season rapidly approaching conference wins become more and more significant.
