Basketball Recap: Ava Sautter's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Manchester over Wabash

Manchester fought the good fight in their overtime game against Wabash on Saturday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell to the Wabash Apaches 61-55. While losing is never fun, the Squires can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Indiana basketball rankings (they are ranked 263rd, while the Apaches are ranked 118th).

Manchester's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Ava Sautter, who posted seven points and five steals. Those five steals gave Sautter a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Emma Walker, who had 11 points.

Even though they lost, Manchester smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 13 offensive boards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now pulled down at least 12 offensive rebounds in three consecutive matchups.

Wabash had a senior duo take command as Brookelyn Buzzard went 7 of 16 on her way to 25 points and six rebounds and Kaitlynn Honeycutt put up 15 points in addition to eight boards and three steals. Honeycutt is on a roll when it comes to steals, as she's now grabbed two or more in the last three games she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Bryleigh Boggs, who posted eight points and seven boards.

Manchester's defeat dropped their record down to 5-9. As for Wabash, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 11-3.

Manchester will challenge Northwestern at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. As for Wabash, they will take on Southwood at 7:45 p.m. on January 4, 2025. Wabash is facing Southwood at the right time seeing as Southwood is stuck on a seven-game losing streak.