The Yorktown Kitty Kat and Wildcat varsity basketball teams picked up wins last Tuesday in District 312A action. On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, Yorktown traveled to Skidmore-Tynan to take on the Lady Cats and Bobcats.
In a game filled with momentum swings and late-game drama, the Yorktown Kitty Kats clawed their way to a nail-biting 31-28 victory. The Kitty Kats got off to a shaky start, falling behind 5-0 early. But freshman sharpshooter Palyn Koopmann ignited the offense, sinking backto- back three-pointers to fuel a nine-point run that put Yorktown ahead 9-5 at the end of the first quarter. Skidmore- Tynan countered in the second, outscoring Yorktown 8-3 to grab a slim 13-12 lead at halftime.
The Lady Cats came out firing in the third quarter, building their largest lead of the night, 26-18, before the game took an electrifying turn. Yorktown began to chip away, with senior Sydnie Krueger and sophomore Rylie Krueger combining for three crucial free throws to trim the deficit to 2621 entering the fourth quarter. The final frame was a heart-stopper. Senior Nina Villarreal’s basket and a Yorktown free throw cut the gap to 27-23 with four minutes to play. Sophomore Kendall Sievers’ basket and Koopmann’s free throw then brought the Kitty Kats within one, 27-26, with two minutes remaining. With time ticking down, Skidmore added a free throw to go up 28-26, but Villarreal answered with a free throw of her own. Then, in a pivotal moment, S. Krueger grabbed a rebound off a missed free throw and delivered a clutch putback to give Yorktown its first lead since the opening half, 2928. Koopmann sealed the deal with two icecold free throws in the final 18 seconds, as the Kitty Kats celebrated a hard-fought 3128 victory. Koopmann led Yorktown with 11 points, six rebounds and four steals. Villarreal finished with seven points, while S. Krueger had six points and nine rebounds.
The Yorktown Wildcats earned their first district victory in dramatic fashion, edging out the Skidmore-Tynan Bobcats 47-42.The opening quarter was a seesaw battle, with both teams trading baskets en route to an 11-11 tie. Senior Sam Forbes led the Wildcats with four points in the period. In the second quarter, Yorktown found its rhythm, thanks to juniors Brody Metting and Connor Saunders, who each tallied four points. Saunders capped the half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave the Wildcats a slim 27-24 lead heading into the locker room.
The Bobcats roared back in the third quarter, outscoring Yorktown 12-6 to take a 36-33 lead heading into the final frame. The fourth quarter was a showcase of grit and composure for the Wildcats. Freshman Aaron Guzman, junior Ryan Knostman, and senior Ethan Fitts scored on consecutive possessions to swing the momentum back to Yorktown, giving them a 39-36 edge. Skidmore- Tynan responded with six straight points to reclaim the lead, 42-39, with just two minutes left on the clock.With the game on the line, Knostman scored and Forbes added a free throw to knot the game at 42. With 30 seconds remaining, Forbes delivered a goahead layup, and sophomore Brayden Knostman came up with a game-changing steal. His quick pass to Metting for a layup sealed the Wildcats’ victory. Fitts added a free throw in the closing seconds to cap off the 47-42 win.
Forbes was a force on both ends of the court, finishing with 12 points and 12 rebounds. R. Knostman chipped in 10 points, while Guzman and Metting contributed seven points apiece, with Metting also grabbing 12 boards.
The Kitty Kats improved to 15-9 on the season and 4-2 in District 31-2A. The Wildcats are now 3-8 on the season and 1-3 in District 13-2A.
