BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
ST. JOHN — Larned's Deacon Martin delivered two steals for the tying and go-ahead 3-point play to spark the Indians past Nickerson 37-33 for the third consecutive time to advance to Saturday's Midwinter Classic fifth-place game.
Martin stole the basketball on back-to-back plays from Rashawn Walker, scored and passed to Tristan Regan for the game-deciding 3-point play for a 34-31 lead. Alex King's basket drew the Panthers within 34-33, but he missed the tying free throw.
Larned’s Andres Martinez and Carson Shaver made free throws for the final four-point margin, 37-33.
Shaver scored 10 points and Regan added nine points.
Nickerson's Rashawn Walker scored seven points. Riley Brawner and Garrett Crossman added six apiece.
It was Larned’s third victory over Nickerson this season, all of them close games. The Indians play in Saturday's fifth-place game.
“No doubt, we told Deacon Martin that he was the MVP of the game with those two steals in the last minute," said Larned coach, Luke Steinlage. "It pulled us from behind, with Nickerson having the ball, into a lead. Everybody struggled with their shooting. Our defense was superb. Our guys are beginning to figure out how to win these close games.”
Nickerson led 6-4 at the first-quarter stop and 16-15 at halftime in the low-scoring affair. Larned pulled into a 25-25 deadlock at the end of three quarters
Larned outscored Nickerson 12-8 in the fourth quarter, due mostly to the Nickerson turnovers. Larned’s Regan and Martin slashed to the basket for several scores in the second half to keep the game close as the Indians struggled with their outside shooting.
Nickerson made 15 of 38 field goal attempts (39%) and 2-4 free throw attempts. The Panthers committed 19 turnovers including the three, late in the fourth quarter.
Larned made 15 of 41 field goal attempts for 37% and 5 of 13 free throws but four of those makes were in critical situations, late in the game.
Nickerson 6 10 9 8 — 33
Larned 4 11 10 12 — 37
NICKERSON (1-9) (FG 3 FT TP)—Walker 3 1-1 7, Brawner 3 0-0 6, Crossman 3 0-0 6, King 2 1-3 5, Riley Linn 2 0-0 4, Yoder 2 (1) 0-0 5, Totals 15-38 (1) 2-4 33
LARNED (5-5) (FG 3 FT TP)—Shaver 4 (1) 1-2 10, Regan 4 1-3 9, Greene 2 0-4 4, Martinez 1 2-2 4, Martin 3 0-0 6, Gonzalez (1) 0-0 3, Crosby 0 1-2 1, Totals 15-41 (2) 5-13 37
LARNED GIRLS 67, NICKERSON 13 — Macksville 64, Cimarron 57; Central Plains 51, Nickerson 35; St. John 45, Inman 33; Little River 45, Larned 43; Larned 37, Nickerson 33; Central Plains 52, Little River 30; 1-24—Cimarron 1-8 vs. Inman 2-7, 5; Macksville 9-2 vs. St John 8-4, 8; 1-25—1ST-Central Plains 10-2 vs. Macksville/St. John winner; 3RD—Little River 8-4 vs. Macksville/St. John loser; 5TH--Larned 5-5 vs. Cimarron/Inman winner; 7TH—Nickerson 1-9 vs. Cimarron/Inman loser
ST. JOHN — Larned’s full-court pressure defense overwhelmed Nickerson 67-13 in consolation play at Thursday's St. John Midwinter Classic.
Larned's Jadyn Crosby scored 20 points, Lauren Sleder 16 and Brooke Simmons 13 as the Indians roared past Nickerson to qualify for the Midwinter Classic fifth-place game.
Nickerson's Adaylee Morrell scored six points. Nickerson committed 31 turnovers. The Panthers struggled with their offensive sets all afternoon, leading to the 31 turnovers that Larned converted into points.
Larned jumped out to a 23-2 first-quarter lead and expanded it to 44-4 and 56-7 at the quarter stops.
Nickerson sat back in a tightly-packed zone defense which led Larned to shoot a lot of 3-point attempts. The Indians attempted 27 shots from beyond the arc, making nine of them. Nickerson made one of ten of the long shots.
Nickerson shot 5 of 29 from the field (17%) and 2 of 14 free throws. Larned doubled Nickerson’s shot attempts with 58, making 23 for 39% and 12 of 19.
“We did what we needed. It's important, in games like this, to get started with energy," said Larned coach Jerrod Smith said. "Our girls did that. We played well.”
Larned had three girls in double figures as Jadyn Crosby scored 20, Lauren Sleder 16 and Brooke Simmons 13.
Nickerson 2 2 3 6 — 13
Larned 23 21 12 11 — 67
NICKERSON (1-9) (FG 3 FT TP)—Morrell 2 (1) 1-1 6, Groth 1 0-5 2, Martinez 0 0-2 0, Powell 1 1-2 3, Nisly 1 0-4 2, Totals 5-29 (1) 2-14 13
LARNED (6-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crosby 7 (4) 2-2 20, Sleder 6 (3) 1-2 16, Brooke Simmons 5 (2) 1-2 13, Reynolds 2 4-4 8, Wachs 1 1-3 3, Lemuz 2 2-4 6, Townsend 0 1-2 1, Totals 23-58 (9-27) 12-19 67
ST. JOHN MIDWINTER GIRLS—Central Plains 39, Cimarron 25; Little River 79, Nickerson 16; Inman 70, Macksville 36; St. John 42, Larned 35; Larned 67, Nickerson 13; Little River 46, St. John 28; 1-24—Cimarron 2-8 vs. Macksville 4-7, 3:30; Central Plains 9-1 vs. Inman 9-1, 6:30; 1ST—Little River 11-0 vs. Central Plains/Inman winner; 3RD—St. John vs. Central Plains/Inman loser; 5TH—Larned 6-4 vs. CImarron/Macksville winner; 7TH—Nickerson 1-9 vs. Cimarron/Macksville loser
