Wolves fall one win from state again

Maywood-Hayes Center senior Jayden Widener (23) splits past two Mullen Broncos with a determined leap during Friday’s D-2 district final at North Platte High School. The Broncos fought MH-C for a 44-39 state-qualifying victory.

Daphne Tidyman/For The Gazette

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Maywood-Hayes Center’s wild comeback from 14 points down fell short in a 44-39 district finals loss to the Mullen girls Friday afternoon.

The Wolves outscored those Broncos, 16-7, and were oh-so-close as they were again just one win from Class D-2 state.

However, coach Kim Stengel’s team finished with 20 wins again (20-6) while Mullen (21-3) advances into Lincoln this week.

Jayden Widener led the Wolves with a game-high 15 points — 13 coming in the second half — while junior Avery Johnson and sophomore Jaycee Widener had eight apiece.

Senior Paige Wood and sophomore Jaycee Lapp added four points apiece for the Wolves.

The Lady Broncos basketball team will look to make history just like the volleyball team, which won its first state tourney game in program history in its eighth appearance.

Now, that same group will look to make history in basketball by trying to deliver its first state win in its third appearance.

Samantha Moore’s 14 points paced the Broncos.

MH-C trailed by 14, 37-23, through the first three quarters.

Jayden Widener’s driving baseline shot sparked the rally and a shot from Lapp brought her team within 39-31.

Jayden scored again to cut that margin into 42-37, but only 30 seconds remained.