The basketball season started on a good note Nov. 8, with an 83-76 overtime victory over Stillwell (OK) in the season opening benefit game. Unfortunately for the Wildcats (0-6), that opener has been the only high point this season. The Wildcats followed up the victory with a home loss to 6A power Little Rock Parkview, 77-46, and then headed for the road. The Wildcat then took a 52-39 loss at 4A Farmington, and a 75-59 loss at Ozark (MO).

“We could never get on a streak and get consecutive stops,” said junior forward Jacob Bladdick.

The Wildcats then headed to Springfield, Missouri from Dec. 2-4, for the Doubletree Classic. There, the Wildcats continued the losing skid by losing to Liberty (MO) 82-59, tournament host Kickapoo (MO) 87-68, and Glendale (MO) 84-55.

“We have to keep our heads up, and string together four solid quarters,” said Bladdick.

The Wildcats have been led on the court by senior point guard Matt Bradley, senior forward Jason Holmstrom, and Bladdick. Bradley leads the team in scoring (10.7 PPG), steals (2.7 SPG), and assists (2.7 APG). Holmstrom leads the team in rebounding, averaging 7.9 RBG.

The Wildcats will try to get back on track in Bixby, Oklahoma when the Wildcats travel to play in a mid-season tournament.

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Going 17-for-18 from the stripe, junior Caroline Eubanks led the Lady Wildcats with 25 points in the team’s debut in the Lady Bulldog Classic in Fayetteville Dec. 2.  For the first time, the Lady Wildcats join the competition at Bulldog Gymnasium. For the past three years, the Lady Bulldogs have won the tournament.

“They know we’re going to compete, and they’d know if they got beat by us, they were beaten by a good team, said junior guard Krista Murr.

The opening round 55-45 victory Thursday night came against Little Rock Central.

“They are really athletic and put a lot of pressure on us,” Murr said. “Jessica [Olson] and Chani [Wolf] did a good job of handling the ball and the pressure.”

Wolf added 10 points for the Lady Wildcats in the first round win despite the pressure from a quick Central team.

“Our guards did a good job paying attention to the size difference and got the ball inside really well,” Murr said.

The Lady Wildcats play in a tournament in Joplin, Missouri this weekend to continue to get ready for their upcoming conference games after break.