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3-pointers sink Panthers' title hopes
gals
Great Bend's tandem of DeShawnna Bryant and Sadie Spray join Haven's Sienna DeFrain and Avery Brawner , Kingman's Laney Wood and Sunrise's Sandra Hracka on the Kingman All-Tournament team. Melissa Ebenkamp of Conway Springs also earned all-tournament honors.

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

KINGMAN – The Great Bend girls were cruising 37-30 in the Kingman Classic championship game when Wichita Sunrise broke out a 3-point shooting contest.

Sunrise’s all-tournament Sandra Hracka drilled three consecutive 3-pointers and Claire Ferguson converted her fourth consecutive 3-pointer to turn a 7-point deficit into a 42-39 lead.

The Buffaloes closed the game on a 30-10 scoring burst for a 60-47 championship victory over the Panthers Saturday.

Hracka scored 18 points and Ferguson 15 points as they combined for 7-of-7 3-pointers. Terrific point guard Marua Sikic contributed 16 points and accurate passing.

The Panthers were tied 43-43 and hung within 47-45 and 49-47 on back-to-back Emilee Hall baskets. But the Buffaloes closed the game with an 11-0 scoring burst in the final four minutes.

“I hope this strings because you want winning and losing to matter,” said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck, who never questions her team’s effort or intensity. “We played two-to-three good quarters. We struggled during that last stretch. We forced things at the end.”

All-tournament Sadie Spray played her usual inspired game with 21 points and her all-around hustle. Hall contributed 15 points. All-tournament DeShawnna Bryant was rewarded for her effort in a 6-point outing after three consecutive solid games off the bench.

“Our offense runs through Sadie,” Beck said. “Sadie sees people locking in on her. Emilee Hall had a great start and got us rolling.”

The Panthers played superbly well into the third period. Spray scored 14 first-half points and Hall scored nine for a 28-27 halftime lead. Spray hit a pair of 3-pointers and Bryant hustled for an inside basket for a 37-30 lead.

But Sunrise swung the momentum with its four consecutive 3-pointers. Sunrise outscored the Panthers 21-12 from 3-point range.

Great Bend plays Larned Tuesday and Emporia Friday next week.

Wichita Sunrise 17 10 16 17 – 60

Great Bend 16 12 11 8 – 47

WICHITA SUNRISE—Hracka 7-15 1-2 18, Sikic 6-8 4-5 16, Ferguson 5-5 1-2 15, Hart 2-101-4 5, Charynek 2-6 2-3 6, Gable 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 22-45 9-16 60.

GREAT BEND (3-1)—Spray 8-21 2-4 21, Hall 6-13 3-6 15, Bryant 3-56 0-0 6, McCauley 1-3 0-0 3, Reimer 1-3 0-0 2, Premer 0-3 0-2 0, Totals 19-49 5-12 47.

3-pointers—WS 7-8 (Ferguson 4-4, Kracka 3-3, Sikic 0-1); GB 4-10 (Spray 3-8, McCauley 1-2).