Cuba Middle School (CMS) boys basketball season is underway, after the Wildcats “A team” played Sept. 7, Sept. 9 and Sept. 11 in the Richland Middle School Tournament against Laquey, Newburg and St. Elizabeth, respectively. Cuba fell to Laquey, defeated Newburg and lost to St. Elizabeth to start the season with a 1-2 record. The Wildcats are led by head coach Lorelei Rice and assistant Mike Clutts, who succeeded CJ Crader after he took the Cuba High School athletic director position.

The Wildcats will host Chamois Sept. 17 for its home opener at Cuba Middle School. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. where Cuba’s “B team” will play first followed by its “A team.” Cuba will then have over a week off before hosting Laquey Sept. 28.

CMS’ girls basketball team will open the season with three straight games from Sept. 15 to Sept. 17. The Lady Cats will travel to New Haven Sept. 15, host St. Clair Sept. 16 and play Sept. 17 in Pacific. Cuba will then host Salem Sept. 22 and Owensville Sept. 24.

Sept. 7 vs. Laquey

The Wildcats’ season tipped off with a match up against the Laquey Hornets at Richland Junior High School. Cuba played well in the first quarter, taking a 12-11 lead into the second frame. But Laquey responded with a 18-8 advantage in the period and took a 29-29 lead over the Wildcats into halftime.

Laquey continued to build its league in the third, using a 18-6 run in the quarter to lead 47-26 into the final frame. Cuba outscored the Hornets by one point in the fourth, but Laquey was able to come away with a 53-33 win.

Seventh grader Ethan Lewis led the Wildcats with 10 points on four baskets and a pair of free throws. Karter Peters and Noah Bynum each scored eight points, Hayden Mann chipped in three points and Aiden Leos and Kevin Overshon each scored two to round out Cuba’s scorers. Laquey eighth grader Silas Thier poured in a game-high 19 points and fellow eighth grader Bryce Chastain added 17 points to lead the Hornets.

Sept. 9 vs. Newburg

Cuba returned to Richland Sept. 9 to take on the Newburg Wolves. The Wildcats tamed the Wolves from start to finish, beginning with a 12-2 first quarter lead and a 24-6 halftime advantage.

Cuba kept its foot on the gas in the second half and cruised to a 38-21 victory for its first win of the season and the first victory for coach Rice as CMS’s head coach.

Lewis nearly outscored Newburg singlehandedly, dropping a game-high 19 points on eight baskets near the rim and one free throw. Hayden Mason drained a pair of three pointers to finish with six points and Overshon scored six on a trio of close range buckets. Peters added five points on a trey and a two-pointer and Bynum chipped in two points on a basket in the fourth quarter.

Sept. 11 vs. St. Elizabeth

The Wildcats traveled back to Richland for the third and final time of the week to play St. Elizabeth in the consolation finals of the Richland Junior High Tournament.

Cuba kept the game close early, trailing 12-7 at the end of the first and 20-13 at halftime. Each team struggled to score in the third frame and St. Elizabeth held onto a 24-16 heading into the final quarter. The Wildcats had their highest scoring quarter in the final frame, netting nine points, but it wasn’t enough for a comeback as St. Elizabeth scored 12 fourth quarter points to come away with a 36-25 win.

Lewis topped his 19 point performance against Newburg with a 20 point showing against St. Elizabeth. He continuously drew contact as he attacked the basket, accumulating 10 free throws attempts throughout the contest. Peters drained a three-pointer in the fourth quarter and Bynum scored a two-point basket in the second quarter as Cuba’s only other scorers. St. Elizabeth seventh grader Hudson Kemna netted 12 points in the win.