Kittens fall in semifinal of Junior Raider Classic

A.J. Winningham (23) gathers the ball in on a pass from Cameron Jones during the Wildkittens' loss to Nettleton Monday afternoon. (Democrat Tribune photo/Dan Brawner)

"We've just got to learn how to play a whole game," was all that coach Marty Vallance had to say about his Wildkittens' 45-39 loss to host Nettleton in the semifinal of the Raider Classic Monday afternoon.

Early on it looked as if the game between Trumann and 5A Nettleton was going to be a close game. As it turned out, that's exactly what it was with three lead changes in the first period.

The Raiders led going into the second period 12-8, but they weren't able to put another point on the board until 1:00 showed on the clock.

In the meantime Cameron Jones single-handedly gave Trumann the lead as he hit 5 of 6 straight charity shots to give the Kittens a one point, 13-12.

The Raiders finally got uncorked, though, scoring five points in the last minute of the half for a 17-13 halftime lead.

Where Jones carried the second period for Trumann, Matt Holt did likewise in the third period hitting two treys and a two-pointer for the Kitten's only points of the period. As a result, entering the final stanza, The Kittens were five, 26-21.

Trumann finally seemed to get untracked in the final period as they bucketed 18 points. Unfortunately, it was also the Raiders biggest quarter as they knocked down one more point that the Kittens, hitting 19 resulting in the 45-39 final talley.

Holt and Jones finished with high points at 10 each. Nathan Maxwell followed with nine, Kaleb Capps five and A.J. Winningham three.

Nathan Smith scored 16 points and Jacob Clifton had 11 for Nettleton.

Wildkittens 48

Junior Lions 44

The Wildkittens didn't have an easy time getting to the semifinal of the Raider Classic as they had to have a big fourth quarter to beat the Manila Junior Lions 48-44 Saturday.

Trumann led at the end of the first period, 12-7.

The Lions came back with their biggest quarter of the night as they more than doubled Trumann's output, 17-8 for a 24-20 halftime lead.

The third period was nearly even as the Kittens gained two points outscoring the Lions 14-12 to go into the final period down 36-34.

Trumann used decent free throw shooting in the final period hitting 6 of 10 to take the quarter 14-7 and the game 48-44.

Holt and Jones led the Kittens scoring again with 13 each while Maxwell and Winningham had eight each, and Capps finished with six.

For Manila Zach Reinhart had 13, Dylan Bogle 12 and Dustin Sirmon 11.