Both Wayne basketball teams have started the season 2-0.

The Bulldogs beat up on Pathways last Tuesday, 70-46, and bested Rush Springs on Friday, 57-38.

Recordbreaker

Senior Jaxon Dill is the new all-time scoring leader for boys basketball at Wayne High School. He had 26 against Pathways and 17 against Rush Springs to make 1,249 career points through 74 games. The record (1,221 points) was previously held by Ellis Paddock set during the 1989-1990 season.

“I’m extremely proud of Jaxon. He works hard and he’s a great young man on and off the court. It was really cool to see Jaxon break that record,” Embry said.

Wayne’s defense was tough in their win over Rush Springs last Friday.

“Rush Springs is long and athletic and we thought our 3-guards could get after them in the back court,” head coach Jackson Embry said.

“The guys fully appreciate and take on the role of defense-first so we can get our offense going through Jaxon and Ty,” Embry said.

Senior Ben Fisher got in some foul trouble which allowed freshman Brody Kemp to get some playing time.

“Brody is going to be a special player. He came in and played about as well as I could have asked.”

Wayne held a 34-21 lead at halftime.

They outscored Rush Springs in the second half 23-17 to pick up the win.

Jaxon Dill and Ty Kemp led the Bulldogs with 17 points each and 10 rebounds each. Fisher had 11 points in the win.

Brody Kemp finished the game with two points.

Last Tuesday, Wayne beat Pathways 70-46 to open their season.

Wayne held a 40-25 halftime lead and continued to stretch that lead in the second half.

Dill scored 26 points, matching his career-high points total.

Kemp added 18 points, Fisher had 11 and Eli Stottlemyre finished the game with six.

“We had several guys come off the bench and get significant minutes and good game experience,” Embry said.

The Bulldogs worked hard clogging the paint on defense to keep Pathways from making field goals.

“I think we held them to two field goals in the first half so our guys did great executing our game plan,” Embry said. 

They are off for Thanksgiving and will hit the court again at Elmore City on December 3.

“They may be somewhat inexperienced but they are always athletic and have good guard play. We’ll be excited for the rivalry game,” Embry said.

Girls

The Lady Bulldogs picked up two wins in their first two games. They beat Pathways 55-23 on Tuesday and Rush Springs 32-29 on Friday.

Friday’s game was “ugly” according to head coach Jackson Embry.

“Our defense worked really hard to keep Rush Springs under 30 points.”

Wayne held a 18-14 lead at halftime, but in the second half sophomore Taelyn Ringwald got in foul trouble and allowed Rush Springs to close the gap.

“Taelyn got in some foul trouble so while she sat Rush Springs took advantage and had the lead going into the fourth quarter,” Embry said.

With Ringwald on the bench, the Lady Redskins were double-teaming Madilyn Sharp and Audra Watts to keep Wayne from getting good looks at the basket.

Ringwald came back in the fourth and went into overdrive, according to Embry.

She hit five of eight free throws and had seven of Wayne’s nine fourth-quarter points to pull out the win.

Ringwald led her team with 13 points. Watts and Dakota Martin had six apiece.

Addison Keeler had nine rebounds in the win.

Last Tuesday Wayne picked up their first win of the season, 55-23 over Pathways.

Watts was the leading scorer with 15. Sharp joined her in double figures with 13.

Ringwald had 11 rebounds and Keeler had nine.

“We’ve worked hard on defense and we hang our hat on that. We’re also working on being conditioned to play hard defense for the whole game and get the ball to the basket,” Embry said.

The Lady Bulldogs will be in Elmore City on December 3.

“Elmore City is always a rivalry game and we’ll be juiced up more than usual.

Embry said the Badgers are always well-coached and return several girls from last year’s team.