Neoga Downs Altamont; Runge Gets 1000th Point

On Opening Night of this abbreviated girls high school basketball season, Neoga beat Altamont at Altamont, 68-65.

On Thursday night, Neoga again beat Altamont at Altamont, 57-54. The contest was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com. 

This three-point win for Neoga was the National Trail Conference-counting game and kept Neoga undefeated on the season at 7-0.

It was anybody's game, though twice it looked like each team was going to pull away from the other. Altamont at one point had a 13-point lead, but Neoga came back to tie the game and then regain the lead. Neoga's eight-point lead, though, evaporated as Altamont came roaring back. 

Altamont was up 14-10 after one quarter and then outscored Neoga in the second period by the same margin to lead 28-20 at halftime. Neoga had a huge third quarter, though, outscoring Altamont 23-9 to lead 43-37 heading for the final period. Neoga outscored Altamont 17-14 in the final quarter but Neoga held on to win by three.

Neoga shot 44% from the field, making 22 of 54 shots, including 1 of 4 threes. Neoga went 12 of 18 from the foul line and turned the ball over 15 times, but just five times in the second half.

Altamont shot just 31% from the field, 19 of 61, including 6 of 26 threes. Altamont made 10 of 12 free throws, and committed 12 turnovers. 

Neoga had a big 37-25 rebounding edge.

Sydney Richards led Neoga with a double-double, 16 points and 11 rebounds. Audrey Ramert just missed with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Kylie Phillips also scored in double figures with 12 points. Abbi Hatten finished with eight points and eight boards, Trista Moore scored six points, and Avery Fearday had five points.

Altamont senior Brooke Runge led her squad with 21 points, while freshman Grace Nelson added 15 points. Peyton Osteen had eight points and a team-leading six rebounds. Taylor Mette and Remington Miller each scored three points, and Brianna Grunloh and Claire Boehm each scored two points.

While Neoga remained undefeated, Altamont slipped to 4-2 with both losses to Neoga.

Despite the loss, it was a special night for Altamont, as Brooke Runge scored her 1,000th career point.

At Altamont

NEOGA (57)

Hatton 3-2 -- 8, Phillips 5-2 -- 12, Richards 6-4 -- 16, Fearday 2-0 -- 5, Moore 3-0 -- 6, Ramert 3-4 -- 10, Campbell 0-0 -- 0. TOTALS 22 FG, 12 FT.

ALTAMONT (54)

Grunloh 1-0 -- 2, Mette 1-0 -- 3, Boehm 1-0 -- 2, Miller 1-1 -- 3, Osteen 2-2 -- 8, Nelson 5-5 -- 15, Runge 8-2 -- 21. TOTALS 19 FG, 10 FT.

Neoga               10    10    23    14    --    57

Altamont          14    14      9    17    --    54

3-point FG -- Neoga 1 (Fearday 1), Altamont 6 (Runge 3, Osteen 2, Mette 1).