SWEET SPRINGS -- The Sweet Springs girls' basketball team rolled out to a 14-0 start Tuesday to defeat visiting Wellington-Napoleon, 51-31, in the I-70 Conference opener for both teams.

The Lady Tigers (1-9, 0-1 I-70) had no player score more than six points, although they only lost the final three frames by six points.

All of the Lady Greyhounds (9-2, 1-0) played and scored, led by senior Laura Keesaer's nine points. Sophomore Kristin Jones was one of three players with seven points, also grabbing 11 rebounds.

Sweet Springs will play Friday at Santa Fe.

Fayette 57, Slater 39

FAYETTE -- Senior Catherine Kyle's 23 points led Fayette to a 57-39 home win over Lewis and Clark Conference rival Slater.

The Lady Falcons opened up a 20-4 first-quarter lead and didn't let the Purple back into the game. Junior Kaitlyn Bailey came off the bench to rack up 15 points for Fayette (5-6, 2-1 L&C).

The Lady Wildcats (5-7, 0-3), who host Paris on Friday, got 13 points and nine rebounds from senior Erika Yager.

Higginsville 35, Santa Fe 29

HIGGINSVILLE -- Santa Fe's defense was generally up to snuff, but the offense continued to struggle Tuesday during a 35-29 non-conference loss at Higginsville.

The Lady Huskers held the visitors to 15 points during the first three quarters, and may have been able to win more comfortably had they not missed 12 of 20 free throws during the final frame. Junior Emily Nolte led Higginsville (3-8) with 10 points.

Junior Dani Heimsoth had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Chiefs (2-8), who committed 26 turnovers and shot 19.5 percent from the field.

Boys

Wellington-Napoleon 91, Sweet Springs 62

SWEET SPRINGS -- Wellington-Napoleon sophomore Kent Hendrix found the up-tempo style of the Sweet Springs boys' basketball team much to his liking Tuesday during the Tigers' 91-66 I-70 Conference road victory.

Hendrix tallied 30 points for the Tigers (9-2, 1-0 I-70), who led nearly all the way before closing with a 25-10 spree. All five starters scored in double figures for Wellington, ranked ninth in the latest Class 2 poll.

The Greyhounds (5-6, 0-1) had four players in double digits, topped by sophomore Zach Thomas' 12 points.

Fayette 70, Slater 57

FAYETTE -- Junior Xavien Crump scored 17 second-half points as Fayette came back from a one-point halftime deficit to defeat Lewis and Clark Conference foe Slater, 70-57.

The Falcons (5-6, 3-0 L&C), who also got 17 points from junior Ryan Sherman, out-scored their guests 42-28 during the second half.

Senior Austin Foster had a career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Wildcats (4-9, 0-3).

Higginsville 50, Santa Fe 33

HIGGINSVILLE -- Senior Mason Rhodes buried three first-half three-pointers for Higginsville during a 50-33 non-conference home win Tuesday over Santa Fe.

The Huskers (11-0), ranked fourth in Class 3, led by only seven points at halftime before gradually pulling away after the break. Rhodes scored 11 of his game-high 15 points during the first half.

Junior Taylor Wesley had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Chiefs (6-4), who have dropped three straight games.