The Superior Express -

The only route available for the Superior High School girls basketball team to the state basketball tournament was through the sub-district and district route. Matters began well for Superior when they toppled number two seed Thayer Central 59-49 at Sutton last Tuesday. Thayer Central had defeated Superior in their previous two meetings. Unfortunately for Superior, they advanced to play Sutton, the number one seed, Thursday, at Sutton. In a must-win game for the Wildcats, they came up on the short end of the 52-44 score. The Mustangs had downed Superior in the traditional season opening game for both teams.

Thayer Central held a 25-24 lead at the half. Superior tied the game at 36 when the third quarter ended. Superior went on an offensive tear in the final quarter, scoring 23 points and leaving the court with a 59-49 win and a ticket to the sub-district final.

Sutton and Superior went back and forth over the span of four quarters with Superior being unable to close the gap. Their season ended with the 52-44 loss.

Shayla Meyer led the Wildcat scoring against Thayer Central with 30 points. Ella Gardner contributed 16 points. Laci Kirchhoff kicked in seven points. Emma Henderson stepped up with four points. Sierra Blackburn put through three points. Atlee Kobza scored two points. Meyer secured 13 rebounds for Superior. Henderson jammed her way to seven rebounds. Gardner handled six rebounds. Kobza came up with three rebounds. Neah McMeen landed two rebounds. Blackburn and Kirchhoff had a rebound each.

Meyer topped the Superior offensive chart against Sutton with 17 points. Blackburn put up 10 points in her final game for Superior. Gardner accounted for seven points. Kirchhoff finished the game with six points. McMeen was good for three points. Meyer grabbed 13 rebounds. Kirchhoff hauled away six rebounds. Kobza recorded two rebounds. Blackburn, Gardner, Henderson and McMeen landed a rebound each.

The Wildcats ended the season with an 11-10 record.

Jake Nannen, head coach of the Wildcats, said, “I am extremely proud of the girls and the season we had. The season did not end the way we wanted but I truly believe we were playing our best basketball in sub-districts. Sutton is a very well-rounded team with a lot of scoring threats. We just did not have enough firepower tonight to get over the hump.

We would like to thank Sierra Blackburn for her grit, drive and determination she showed this year as a team captain and only senior. She has meant a ton to this program her last four years and we are ecstatic that she had the opportunity to help lead our team this year. She did a fantastic job.”