Wampus Cats fall to Mackay

NAMPA — If someone had told Clark Fork head coach Dexter Vogel before the game that his team would hold Mackay to just one field goal in the second half, he would have been thrilled.

But strange things can happen at the state tournament, and despite a stellar defensive effort, the Wampus Cats fell 37-28 to the Diggers in the opening round of the 1A Division II state girls basketball tournament Thursday night at Nampa High School.

The Wampus Cats (12-9) held the Diggers (13-9) to a paltry 15 percent shooting from the field, a number any coach would happily take, including an almost unheard of one field goal in 33 attempts in the second half. While the Diggers made only one basket in the second half, they did make 14 free throws, which proved enough in a low scoring second half.

Sophomore Tessa Vogel posted a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Brocklynn Thornton added eight points, a game-high 17 boards and three blocked shots in defeat, as the Cats managed just nine points in a cold-shooting second half after trailing 21-19 at half time.

Celeste Komanec added three points, three rebounds and three steals and Zara Palmer four points and five rebounds for the Cats, who made only 12 of their 52 attempts from the field in a low-scoring affair.

Ultimately the game was won at the free throw line, where the Diggers shot 18-34 while the Wampus Cats made just 5-8.

Alaysha Whitworth did the bulk of the damage for the Diggers, tallying 20 points, 10 rebounds and six steals.

Clark Fork will face Garden Valley (13-9) at 7 p.m. tonight in the consolation round at Nampa High School.

Mackay      8   13   7   9 — 37

Clark Fork  9   10   3   6 — 28

MACKAY — Nelson 1, Woodbury 5, Williams 4, Tillotson 5, Ivie 2, Whitworth 20.

CLARK FORK — Palmer 4, Kiebert 0, McMahon 0, Vogel 13, Komanec 3, Thornton 8, Wurm 0, Van Buren 0, Kailang 0.