For the Yuma High School boys basketball team, it's time to make it known that it will likely be its last season playing in Lower Platte.
Despite the school's promotion to Class 3A basketball, the Outlaws remain at Lower Platte this season. Yuma will likely join the 3A league for hoops next season, with Ray and Wiggins in particular also reportedly moving up to 3A.
But for now, they have their final run at Lower Platte, starting with Friday's game against Holyoke, followed by Saturday's home date against Haxtun.
Yuma returned from Christmas break last Saturday and improved to 6-1 with a 71-68 home win over Highland. The Outlaws were fourth. 3A CHSAA Selection and Seed Index As of early this week.
The Dragons return nearly everyone from last year's team, so they should get a good test Friday in Holyoke. They are 5-2 this week, ranked ninth in the 2A Index, and head into this Tuesday's home game against Phillips County rival Huxtun. Last Friday, they defeated Caliche 58-42. Holyoke is led by Wyatt Sprague, Cash Weber and Reed Sprague.
Yuma will then return home Saturday afternoon to face a Haxtun team that is 3-5 this week and ranked 38th in the 2A Index. The Fightin Bulldogs lost to Prairie and Wiggins last weekend.
“These games will help develop our depth,” Yuma coach Dave Sheffield said. “We have played well, but there are many things we need to improve on. Everyone wants to compete in the league, so it should be a good test.”
The Outlaws returned from the Christmas break with a home win over Highland, putting up a solid effort from start to finish. The Huskies are currently 5-3 and ranked 13th in 3A, but Sheffield said he was surprised by this because they are a good team and have played a strong schedule.
They definitely gave Yuma everything they could.
The Outlaws led 16-10 early, but Highland fought back to within one point at 20-19. Yuma went on a 6-0 run late in the second quarter to take a 31-23 lead, but the Huskies fought back and were down 33-30 at halftime.
Yuma extended its lead to 42-32 in the third, but the Huskies went on an 11-2 run to close within 44-43. Brody Sheffield scored at the buzzer for a 56-49 lead going into the fourth. But Highland hung on and got within 70-68 with about 10 seconds left.
“This is one of the games you put on the calendar early in the season because they're a very solid team,” Sheffield said.
Jonathan Thomson recorded a double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds, along with five steals. Cristian Duarte had 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals, B. Sheffield had 17 points and 5 assists, Edwin Muñoz had 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals, and Cesar Gamboa had 4 points and 4 assists.
“We scored 71 points and had good offensive efficiency,” Sheffield said. “We had some turnovers at times, but overall I thought we played well. The only advantage they had was their big bodies inside, but we were good on the glass. I thought we fought well.”
