The Axtell Wildcats's recent rough patch got a bit rougher on Saturday after their fifth straight loss. Their2023 ended with a 30-11 defeat against Chambers/Wheeler Central. Axtell found out winning isn't easy when you're outrebounded 12 to 4 on offense.
They got a good chunk of their points from the dynamic duo of
Cadie Nickel and
Morgan Hawkins, who each put up five points. Hawkins also led the team in rebounds with six.
Among those leading the charge was Lizzie Gartner, who scored 11 points along with five rebounds and three steals. She hasn't dropped below two steals for eight straight games. Another player making a difference was Savannah Hansen, who scored five points along with six rebounds.
Axtell bumped their record down to 1-9 with that loss, which was their fourth straight at home. That rough patch could be blamed on the team's offensive performance across that stretch, as they only averaged 12.0 points per game. As for Chambers/Wheeler Central, their victory ended a three-game drought on the road and puts them at 2-7.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Axtell the luxury of staying home another game and will welcome Sumner-Eddyville-Miller at 6:00 p.m. on January 5th. Sumner-Eddyville-Miller will be coming into the game with an undefeated record on the line. As for Chambers/Wheeler Central, Chambers/Wheeler Central and Twin Loup will face off at 6:00 p.m. on January 2nd without much rest after finishing up games yesterday. The matchup should be an exciting one, as these teams are ranked near one another in Nebraska (Twin Loup is ranked 212th, while Chambers/Wheeler Central is ranked 192nd).
