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Summer Bryant • The Madill Record RJ Morris dribbles down the court during the Madill v. Tishomingo game. The Wildcats won 48 to 39 in overtime. -
Summer Bryant • The Madill Record Abbie Lambertsen goes up for a jump ball tipoff during the Madill v. Tishomingo game on December 3, 2021. They won 43-13. -
Summer Bryant • The Madill Record Braylee Schneider catches a pass during the Madill v. Tishomingo game on December 3, 2021. -
Summer Bryant • The Madill Record Stephen Sisco runs down the court in the game against Tishomingo. The Wildcats won the game in overtime.
Girls’ team
The Madill girls’ basketball team hosted the Tishomingo Indians on Friday, December 3, 2021, to start the regular season. The Lady Wildcats beat Tishomingo 43 to 13.
Madill has five returning seniors playing this year, Jayden Weiberg, Braylee Schneider, Joslyn Stumblingbear, Lydia Landgraf, and Abbie Lambertsen. Madill Head Coach Shawn Runyan is currently in his seventh year of coaching the Lady Wildcats and said he looks forward to the season and what the experienced players have to offer.
“I expect the seniors to be good leaders,” Runyan said. “They have quite a bit of experience between them all.”
The Lady Cats scored six points the first quarter, with Senior Jayden Weiberg scoring four points, and Senior Braylee Schneider scoring two points. Madill’s defense held Tishomingo to a scoreless quarter.
Runyan said, “our defense was really good. We switched defenses and talked to each other, and that was a big factor in the win. We missed a few block outs that gave Tishomingo extra shots.”
The second quarter opened with Weiberg popping a 3-pointer. The Lady Indians scored four consecutive points. Weiberg was fouled taking the ball up the court and scored two free throws.
Tishomingo scored two more points to close out the second quarter. Madill led at halftime, 11 to 6.
Lambertsen hit two points with seconds shaved off the third quarter. Weiberg got a layup and then swished a three-pointer with less than two minutes into the quarter.
The Lady Indians scored four points. Lambertsen was fouled and hit two free throws. Senior Joslyn Stumblingbear was fouled and made one free throw. Sophomore Hannah Elkins swished a three-pointer to close out the quarter.
Madill brought the heat in the fourth quarter with Weiberg scoring two points, getting fouled, and making one free throw. Weiberg got the ball again and popped a three-pointer. Hannah added two points.
Sophomore Allyson Knight scored four consecutive points. Junior Lucero Gomez added two more points. Sophomore Haley Elkins hit nothing but net for a threepointer to end the game. The Lady Wildcats won 41 to 13. Runyan said even though they won the season opening game, there is still room for improvement.
“Our offense was ok. We missed a few easy buckets. We need to be more crisp,” said Runyan, “Jayden had a good first game.”
Weiberg has signed to continue her basketball career with East Central Lady Tigers. Runyan’s assistant coach is Hayden Priddy. Priddy was a standout point guard at SWSOU and is in her first year of coaching. The Lady Cats will play the Marietta Lady Indians at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, the first day of the Madill Winter Classic.
Boys’ team
The Wildcats have five returning seniors, Ezekiel Fuentes, Javier Gomez, Hayden Harper, Nick Northcutt, and Kendall Robertson. Head Coach Brett Weiberg, who is in his fourth year of coaching at Madill said he is impressed by the improvement in his veteran players.
“I love coaching these seniors and they all have really improved,” Weiberg said. “They all had good productive summers. These seniors play hard and compete and I believe they will have a great year.”
The Wildcats also started out their season with a win, beating Tishomingo 49 to 39 after going into overtime. Senior Nick Northcutt put one point on the score board after being fouled with less than thirty seconds off the start of the game.
Senior Ezekiel Fuentes got a jump shot. Tishomingo was fouled and put one point on the board. Fuentes was able to get another jump shot. Senior Kendall Robertson took the ball straight up the court to add another two points. The Indians scored two consecutive jump shots.
Junior RJ Morris swished a three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first quarter. Wieberg said the team’s shooting abilities have improved.
“We have solid depth, our shooting has improved, and our kids play hard,” said Weiberg.
In the second quarter, the Wildcats allowed the Indians to take the lead before halftime. Fuentes started the quarter with two points.
Tishomingo scored three 2-pointers back-to-back. The Wildcats fouled allowing the Indians to add two free throw points. Tishomingo added another two-point jump shot.
The Wildcats fouled again, and Tishomingo took advantage with two more free throw points. Weiberg said it is the small details that can make a difference.
“We need to come together and play hard and buy into the little details that separates good and average teams,” Weiberg said.
The second half felt more like a tennis match than a basketball game. Morris swooshed a three-pointer with approximately three minutes in to the quarter. Robertson fouled and Tishomingo took advantage adding two free throw points.
The Indians added a two point jump shot. Morris added two points. Junior Stephen Sisco added a two-point jump shot. Senior Javier Gomez had a two-point jump shot. Sisco popped a three-pointer with two minutes left in the quarter.
The Indians scored two more points. Fuentes popped a three-pointer. Northcutt got a two-point jump shot. Morris added two more points before quarter ended. The Wildcats led 32 to 30.
The fourth quarter brought action, intensity and emotions ran high. Fuentes shot a two-point jump shot. The Indians added 2 two-point jump shots back-to-back.
Robertson popped a threepointer. Tishomingo added two more points. Northcutt jumped for two more points. With three seconds left, Tishomingo hit a three pointer, tying the game, 39 to 39.
Overtime
The game goes into a fourminute overtime play where the Wildcats took control of the court. Northcutt shot for two points. Then, Fuentes turned around and added two more points. Morris is fouled and added two-point free throws.
Morris fouled again added one free throw. Fuentes is fouled adding two free throws. Wildcats got the win 48 to 39.
“I thought it was an exciting and fun game. Tishomingo is well coached, and I thought they played well,” said Weiberg. “I am really proud of the boys. I felt like we played really hard and competed the entire 36 minutes. It’s always good to open the season with a win; especially when it’s against a rival.”
The Wildcats will play the Marietta Indians on Thursday, December 9, at 8:30 in the Madill Winter Classic. “Thank you to our fans; especially our student section for giving us an incredible home court advantage,” said Weiberg.