HAVEN, Kan. — Andale senior Mayla Spexarth delivered when it mattered the most on Thursday against Circle in the 53rd Wildcat Classic.
Spexarth’s game-winning layup off a pass from Paige Stanhope came with four seconds remaining to give the Lady Indians a 48-47 victory over the Thunderbirds to extend their winning streak to six.
Andale led 14-7 after one and took a 25-23 halftime lead thanks to a Stanhope 3-pointer. The Thunderbirds rallied in the third quarter, outscoring the Lady Indians 13-5 to take a 36-30 lead heading into the fourth. Circle led by as many as eight in the fourth, 42-34, before Andale made its comeback.
Abbi Winter led the way for Andale with 14 points while Brooke Grimes added 11.
Andale (8-3) will take on Cheney (11-3) in the second semifinal of the Wildcat Classic at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Haven. Cheney defeated Maize in its opening round contest, 46-39. The other semifinal at 6 p.m. features Halstead (12-0) and Garden Plain (9-5). Halstead defeated Valley Center, 58-33, while Garden Plain defeated Haven, 52-32. Haven (9-5) will take on Valley Center (4-9) in the first consolation semifinal at 3 p.m., followed by Circle (6-7) taking on Maize (5-8) at 4:30 p.m. in the other consolation semifinal.
