The Winfield Viking girls basketball team managed to hit just three shots from the field Friday night at Circle and fell 37-24.
The Vikings trailed 13-3 after the first quarter. After an even 9-9 second quarter, Winfield went into halftime down 22-12. An 11-3 advantage for the Thunderbirds in the third quarter proved too much for the Vikings to overcome.
Haylie Turner made all three field goals for Winfield, including two 3-pointers, and finished with eight points. Karsyn Hutto was guarded tightly all night and held scoreless from the field but went to the free-throw line 14 times. After missing her first two attempts, she hit 10 of her next 12. Continue story below ad.
Coming off a Tuesday night home loss to Rose Hill, the Winfield boys were looking to right the ship Friday at Circle. The Thunderbirds, despite missing two key players, fed off a boisterous Homecoming crowd and stunned the Vikings 59-50.
Winfield connected on six 3-point shots in the first half to take a 34-32 lead at halftime. But the shooting cooled in the second half. The Vikings made just three field goals in the third quarter and none in the fourth. Winfield led by one entering the final period but managed only five made free throws, all by senior Kellen Gibson, as Circle outscored them 15-5.
Circle freshman Tripp Barnes finished with a game-high 19 points. Winfield was led by Evan Hutto with 18, while Gibson added 16.
Winfield returns to the road Tuesday at Augusta. The Orioles swept the Vikings on Dec. 19 at Ollie Thomas Gymnasium.
