The Altha Wildcats lost in the opening round of the District to Holmes County Monday night on the Blue Devils’ home floor.
Altha trailed 11-8 after the first quarter but outscored the Blue Devils 17-6 in the second to lead 25-17 at the half. The Cats opened up a 15 point lead (39-24) late in the third on a three pointer by Aiden VanZant. Two late scores by Holmes cut the lead to 10 (39-29) entering the 4th quarter. Altha struggled with full court pressure and could not hold the lead, succumbing to the Blue Devils 55-46 on their home court.
Mason Hill led the Cats with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Hayden Gorlott also scored 16 points. Aiden VanZant added 6 points. Jake Lytle and Saxon Smith each scored 3 points, but Smith had his best defensive performance of the season.
“It has been a crazy year filled with adversity. Losing our point guard a few weeks ago, then Aiden Grover out with the flu, we just struggled against the full court pressure,” said Coach Jimmy Rogers. “Through it all, I am very pleased with the way this group has responded through this season. We finished the year with three freshmen and an 8th grader in the starting lineup and a couple of sophomores coming off the bench, to win four of the last five is a phenomenal achievement by this group.”
The Wildcat basketball team won their last four games when they had their District tournament roster to finish 14-11 on the regular season.
Altha 50, Ponce De Leon 40
Altha jumped out to a 15-10 first quarter lead and held on to defeat the Pirates 50-40.
Mason Hill scored 20 points and added 18 rebounds in the win. Hayden Gorlott added 16 points. Aiden VanZant had 3 timely threes for the Cats’.
Altha 50, Aucilla Christian 40
Altha started ahead 12-10 at the end of the first quarter and led the rest of the way, defeating the Warriors at home.
Mason Hill scored 22 points and had 26 rebounds to lead the way. Hayden Gorlott added 18 points. Saxon Smith chipped in with 6 points. Aiden Grover added 5 points and 6 assists. Jerimiah Compton added 2 points in the win.
Altha 50, Wakulla 49
Altha led early and built the lead to 14 (48-34) but then had to hold on to defeat the War Eagles on their home floor.
Mason Hill scored 20 points with 21 rebounds. Jerimiah Comptom added 9 points with 5 steals. Aiden VanZant and Hayden Gorlott each added 5 points. Aiden Grover had 6 assists. Saxon Smith added 5 rebounds.
Altha 39, Wewahitchka 38
Altha trailed 14-8 after the first quarter, but a 14-0 second quarter gave the Cats’ a 22-14 lead at the half. Altha maintained the lead until a 3 pointer by #2 gave the Gators their first lead (33-32) with 3:48 remaining. Jerimiah Compton hit a critical 3 to regain the lead for the Cats’ (35-33). Altha followed with a basket by Compton to lead 37-33 and Altha hung on for their 14th win.
Mason Hill scored 15 points with 14 rebounds to lead Altha. Hayden Gorlott added 15 points.
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Altha 58, Wakulla Christian 44
Altha broke open a close game in the second quarter after trailing 17-12 with a 24-2 run which was highlighted by Aiden VanZants three 3’s and Saxon Smith’s two 3’s as the Cats went on to defeat Aucilla Christian 58-44 in Wakulla.
Brody Burch led Altha with 18 points and 6 assists, Aiden VanZant followed with 10 points, Hayden Gorlott and Jacob Cannon added 9 points, Mason Hill and Saxon Smith added 6 points and Hill also grabbed 23 rebounds.
Altha won the JV game 60-38. Riley Rowe scored 11 points, Spencer O’Brian scored 10 points, Aiden Grover scored 7 points and Jerimiah Compton and Myles Barfield added 6 points.
Holmes County 71 Altha 40
Altha traveled to Holmes Thursday and like the severe weather, didn’t show up. Holmes led from start to finish and was never threatened.
Hayden Gorlott scored 13 points, Mason Hill added 11 points and Brody Burch added 8 points.
Altha 60, Liberty County 51
Altha continued their road schedule and traveled to Bristol Friday night. Liberty led most of the first hand until a late 8-0 run by the Cats ended the half and the Cats led 33-29. The game remained nip and tuck until late when the Bulldogs were forced to foul.
Mason Hill led the Cats with 19 points and 13 rebounds, Hayden Gorlott scored 18 points with 6 rebounds; Brody Burch added 14 points, 6 steals, and 5 assists and Aiden VanZant added 6 points.
Liberty County won the JV game, 43-30. Aiden Grover scored 11 points in the loss.
Freeport 71, Altha 57
The Cats started slow, trailing 16-3 before making a run to get back in the game and cutting the Freeport lead to 2 (22-20) with 3:13 left in the second. Five consecutive turnovers led to Bulldog baskets and the Cats trailed 33-20 at the half. Altha kept clawing back cutting the lead to 8 early in the 4th quarter but could not draw any closer to the home Bulldogs.
Hayden Gorlott scored 24 points to lead the Cats, Brody Burch added 13 points with 4 steals and Mason Hill scored 11 points with 7 rebounds.
Freeport won the JV game 55-41. Aiden Grover scored 10 points, Jerimiah Compton scored 8 points and Mason Porter and Cole Cauley added 7 points.
The Altha Basketball team traveled to Wakulla Christian on Tuesday, Jan. 10, will then head to Holmes on Thursday and then finish the week at Liberty County on Friday.
JAN. 5: Altha 60, Rocky Bayou 43
Altha started sluggish and after the first quarter found themselves in a 12-12 tie.
The second quarter was all Cats as they outscored the Knights 17-7 to lead at the half 29-19.
The game never got closer as the Cats improved to 8-4.
Mason Hill led Altha with 25 points and 21 rebounds. Hayden Gorlott added 14 points. Brody Burch added 12 points, 6 steals, and 8 assists. Gabe Britt added 7 points. Jacob Cannon scored 2 points with 6 rebounds and did an outstanding job on defense.
Rocky Bayou won the JV game 37-23.
Jerimiah Compton led the younger Cats with 7 points and a great defensive effort.
JAN. 6: Bozeman 56, Altha 44
Altha started slow but hung around, losing to Bozeman 56-44 at home.
The team was led by Mason Hills with 18 points and 14 rebounds. Hayden Gorlott added 12 points and 6 rebounds. Brody Burch chipped in with 7 points, 5 steals and 10 assists. Aiden VanZant and Jake Lytle each scored 3 points.
“We have enough talent to compete. We have to learn the cerebral part of the game,” said Coach Jimmy Rogers, who cited a string of unforced turnovers, missing defensive assignments that led to giving them 4 easy baskets, and 11 missed free throws. “If we learn to keep our heads in the game, we have a chance to compete and that’s all you can ask for,” he said.
