The adage you can’t judge a book by its cover fits the West Central Valley Wildcats girls basketball team midway through this winter sports season. The Wildcats have won just three of their 11 games played so far this winter. However, five of those losses were by seven points or less, and two of those setbacks came in overtime to league foes Ogden and Woodward-Granger. The Wildcats begin their second time through the conference slate tonight as they entertain the Ogden Bulldogs. The Bulldogs edged the Wildcats, 40-36, in overtime on November 30 in Boone County. West Central Valley girls basketball coach Drew Stonewall talked about getting off to a fast start as a critical component if the Wildcats want to even the season series with Ogden tonight. “We did not (get off to a fast start against Ogden or Woodward-Granger),” Stonewall said, “We fought in both games from behind, and a lot of our close losses have been that way. We get down close to 10 points, and we have to fight all the way back just to make it a game.”

Junior Sydney Neal posted a double-double the first time around against Ogden, recording 17 points and grabbing 16 rebounds versus the Bulldogs. Neal also recorded three steals and three blocks in the setback. Ogden brings a 6-4 overall record with them to Stuart tonight, posting a 2-4 mark against West Central Activities Conference foes. Tonight’s league varisty doubleheader between West Central Valley and Ogden starts at 6 p.m. with the girls’ contest, and the boys game will follow from Stuart.