Sparta hands Southwest Homecoming losses
February 13, 2019
Lee Stubblefield
Not even the festive Homecoming could sweeten the action on the court at Washburn on Friday night. The Sparta Lady Trojans rolled to a 62-29 victory to open the night, and then the Sparta boys claimed a 59-42 win with a decisive 14-3 fourth quarter uprising.
Southwest’s boys came out fighting, searching for their fourth victory in a rebuilding year. The visiting Sparta Trojans were just trying to repair a leaky boat and continue the climb back toward the .500 mark.
Sparta’s losing record is a mystery. A tall and talented team, these Trojans have played inconsistently, posting an 8-13 record. When Sparta loses, they lose big.
Sparta’s Collin Teague scored the opening basket of the contest in the paint, to foreshadow the tone of the game. Southwest’s Travis Sickles rained in a pair of treys and Austin Pippin added a third though, as Southwest gained a 9-7 lead at the 3:41 mark.
After Southwest started 3 for 4 from beyond the arc, Sparta extended the defense to cool off the outside shooting. Then Teague and Dakota Lafferty homesteaded the lane to give the visitors a 15-11 lead at the first break.
The second quarter defined Sparta’s season woes. Some sloppy defense resulted in both Teague and Lafferty being saddled with three fouls. With the interior advantage lost, Sparta allowed Southwest to crawl back on the scoreboard.
Sparta’s Hunter McGraw shoved Southwest’s Cruz Marquez with less than a second on the clock, and Southwest’s freshman guard sank both free throws to create a 30-30 tie at the half.
But Sparta regrouped in the third quarter. Although Sickles bombed again from the outside and Marquez came up with a steal and a coast-to-coast solo drive for a 37-34 Southwest lead, Sparta slowly took control. Teague scored three baskets for Sparta, and Lafferty scored the next three for the visitors. Then big freshman Austin Brown swished a rare trey to give Sparta a 45-38 lead at the final break.
The fourth quarter was all Sparta. Southwest’s defense disappeared, allowing a 10-0 run to start the final period. By the time Caden Uthe was fouled on a three-point attempt, the game was pretty much over. Uthe connected on two of the three free throws, but Sparta held a 55-41 lead with just 2:54 remaining.
Aubrey Cornell scored Southwest’s final point from the line as Sparta claimed the 59-42 victory.
Southwest scorers: Travis Sickles, 14; Austin Pippin, 14; Cruz Marquez, 11; Caden Uthe, 2; and Aubrey Cornell, 1.
Sparta scorers: Dakota Lafferty, 22; Collin Teague, 21; Hunter McGraw, 6; Logan Byerly, 5; Austin Brown, 3; and Isaiah Sanchez, 2.
Struggles continue for Southwest Lady Trojans
It has been a long year for Southwest coaches, players and fans. Especially for the Lady Trojans.
The Southwest girls struggled through a 3-23 campaign last year, losing their last 21 games. With the loss to Sparta on Friday night, the Lady Trojans are now 0-23 for this season and own a 44-game losing streak.
It has been a brutal year, mentally and physically. Southwest began the season with thirteen girls on the roster. A devastating string of season-ending injuries plus other circumstances has left veteran coach Darrell Tilford with just five girls available for varsity play. Five.
But the storm didn’t just happen this year. The slide began the day one player graduated. The post-Jaime Shrum era has seen back-to-back seasons of 5-19 and 3-23, and of course, the current winless season.
Southwest is not the first school to experience the graveyard spiral in basketball. Other area programs have suffered through similar situations. But it is frustrating and upsetting for a close-knit community that identifies so closely with the school, the students and the representative sports teams.
Sparta’s Shelby McMurry put on a clinic against the Lady Trojans, scoring 29 to match the entire output of the Southwest team. Sparta led 15-8 at the first break and 29-17 at halftime. A 25-7 third quarter set the stage for a running clock.
Sparta improved to 12-12 with the victory, while Southwest dipped to 0-23.
Southwest scorers: Mariah Munday, 13; Maggie Robbins, 8; Hailey Erwin, 4; Laney Moore, 2; and Ashley Sharp, 2.
Sparta scorers: Shelby McMurry, 29; Jadrien Hyatt, 15; Lauren Bilyeu, 7; Kaylee Case, 4; Sierra Schneider, 4; and Alyssa Diers, 3.
Lee Stubblefield
Not even the festive Homecoming could sweeten the action on the court at Washburn on Friday night. The Sparta Lady Trojans rolled to a 62-29 victory to open the night, and then the Sparta boys claimed a 59-42 win with a decisive 14-3 fourth quarter uprising.
Southwest’s boys came out fighting, searching for their fourth victory in a rebuilding year. The visiting Sparta Trojans were just trying to repair a leaky boat and continue the climb back toward the .500 mark.
Sparta’s losing record is a mystery. A tall and talented team, these Trojans have played inconsistently, posting an 8-13 record. When Sparta loses, they lose big.
Sparta’s Collin Teague scored the opening basket of the contest in the paint, to foreshadow the tone of the game. Southwest’s Travis Sickles rained in a pair of treys and Austin Pippin added a third though, as Southwest gained a 9-7 lead at the 3:41 mark.
After Southwest started 3 for 4 from beyond the arc, Sparta extended the defense to cool off the outside shooting. Then Teague and Dakota Lafferty homesteaded the lane to give the visitors a 15-11 lead at the first break.
The second quarter defined Sparta’s season woes. Some sloppy defense resulted in both Teague and Lafferty being saddled with three fouls. With the interior advantage lost, Sparta allowed Southwest to crawl back on the scoreboard.
Sparta’s Hunter McGraw shoved Southwest’s Cruz Marquez with less than a second on the clock, and Southwest’s freshman guard sank both free throws to create a 30-30 tie at the half.
But Sparta regrouped in the third quarter. Although Sickles bombed again from the outside and Marquez came up with a steal and a coast-to-coast solo drive for a 37-34 Southwest lead, Sparta slowly took control. Teague scored three baskets for Sparta, and Lafferty scored the next three for the visitors. Then big freshman Austin Brown swished a rare trey to give Sparta a 45-38 lead at the final break.
The fourth quarter was all Sparta. Southwest’s defense disappeared, allowing a 10-0 run to start the final period. By the time Caden Uthe was fouled on a three-point attempt, the game was pretty much over. Uthe connected on two of the three free throws, but Sparta held a 55-41 lead with just 2:54 remaining.
Aubrey Cornell scored Southwest’s final point from the line as Sparta claimed the 59-42 victory.
Southwest scorers: Travis Sickles, 14; Austin Pippin, 14; Cruz Marquez, 11; Caden Uthe, 2; and Aubrey Cornell, 1.
Sparta scorers: Dakota Lafferty, 22; Collin Teague, 21; Hunter McGraw, 6; Logan Byerly, 5; Austin Brown, 3; and Isaiah Sanchez, 2.
Struggles continue for Southwest Lady Trojans
It has been a long year for Southwest coaches, players and fans. Especially for the Lady Trojans.
The Southwest girls struggled through a 3-23 campaign last year, losing their last 21 games. With the loss to Sparta on Friday night, the Lady Trojans are now 0-23 for this season and own a 44-game losing streak.
It has been a brutal year, mentally and physically. Southwest began the season with thirteen girls on the roster. A devastating string of season-ending injuries plus other circumstances has left veteran coach Darrell Tilford with just five girls available for varsity play. Five.
But the storm didn’t just happen this year. The slide began the day one player graduated. The post-Jaime Shrum era has seen back-to-back seasons of 5-19 and 3-23, and of course, the current winless season.
Southwest is not the first school to experience the graveyard spiral in basketball. Other area programs have suffered through similar situations. But it is frustrating and upsetting for a close-knit community that identifies so closely with the school, the students and the representative sports teams.
Sparta’s Shelby McMurry put on a clinic against the Lady Trojans, scoring 29 to match the entire output of the Southwest team. Sparta led 15-8 at the first break and 29-17 at halftime. A 25-7 third quarter set the stage for a running clock.
Sparta improved to 12-12 with the victory, while Southwest dipped to 0-23.
Southwest scorers: Mariah Munday, 13; Maggie Robbins, 8; Hailey Erwin, 4; Laney Moore, 2; and Ashley Sharp, 2.
Sparta scorers: Shelby McMurry, 29; Jadrien Hyatt, 15; Lauren Bilyeu, 7; Kaylee Case, 4; Sierra Schneider, 4; and Alyssa Diers, 3.