jmisunas@gbtribune.com
The Great Bend Panther girls were down, but not out.
With sparkplug Sydney Unruh dancing around constant foul trouble, the Panthers found a way for a thrilling 48-45 non-league basketball victory over Holcomb after trailing by 10 points. The Panthers won their opener with a 20-4 scoring burst to surprise Scott City.
Nicole Ruda’s final basket secured a 42-36 Holcomb lead.
Panther Hannah Loomis sank a free throw and Unruh drilled a basket for a 42-39 score. Jera Kruleski’s free throw for Holcomb was matched by Allyson Kaiser’s banked field goal and Hannah Loomis’ basket for a 43-43 tie. Kruleski’s final score gave Holcomb a 45-43 lead.
After a Taryn Warren free throw, Unruh scored off a steal for a 46-45 lead with 70 seconds left. Unruh converted a free throw for a 47-45 lead.
The Longhorns missed two chances to tie. Holcomb’s Rian Rodriguez missed two free throws with 26 seconds left. After Unruh added a final free throw, Holcomb’s Blair Holladay’s missed a 3-pointer to tie.
“We kept battling and rallied again. We’re very proud for statying focused and staying in the game,” said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. “That shows we won’t back down. We made big offensive plays and big defensive stops.”
The Panthers outscored the Longhorns 22-9 after trailing 36-26 midway through the third period. The momentum swung when Holcomb’s dominating Nicole Ruda drew quick fouls after a 12-rebound first half that led the Longhorns to a 26-8 rebounding domination.
“We didn’t play all that well,” Beck said. “But we’ve got a group that battles.”
Great Bend’s Allyson Kaiser started a 10-0 surge with a 3-pointer followed by Emily Hall’s two free throws. Unruh fed Kaiser for a 3-pointer and Unruh scored after a steal for a 36-36 tie.
Unruh tied her career high with 22 points. She accounted for 14 first-half points and an assist. Kaiser added 15 points.
When Unruh missed time with fouls, the Panthers’ offense slowed down. Holcomb took advantage to lead 28-24 that stretched out to 36-26 when when McKee Blackburn scored following six free throws.
Paige Jones led Holcomb with 13 points and Rian Rodriguez added eight points.
Holcomb 12 12 14 7 – 45
Great Bend 17 11 8 12 – 48
HOLCOMB–Jones 2-9 9-13 13; Rodriguez 4-6 0-5 8; Holladay 1-8 4-6 7; Ruda 3-7 0-2 6; McVey 1-6 0-0 2; Blackburn 2-4 0-1 4; Cornelsen 0-1 0-0 0; Kruleski 1-4 3-4 5; Totals 14-45 16-31 45
GREAT BEND (2-0)–Unruh 7-10 6-10 22; Kaiser 6-12 1-4 15; Hall 1-3 2-2 4; Hannah Loomis 1-2 1-2 3; Spray 1-7 0-2 2; Emma Loomis 0-5 1-2 1; Harbaugh 0-1 0-2 0; Warren 0-2 1-4 1; Totals 16-42 12-28 48
The Great Bend Panther girls were down, but not out.
With sparkplug Sydney Unruh dancing around constant foul trouble, the Panthers found a way for a thrilling 48-45 non-league basketball victory over Holcomb after trailing by 10 points. The Panthers won their opener with a 20-4 scoring burst to surprise Scott City.
Nicole Ruda’s final basket secured a 42-36 Holcomb lead.
Panther Hannah Loomis sank a free throw and Unruh drilled a basket for a 42-39 score. Jera Kruleski’s free throw for Holcomb was matched by Allyson Kaiser’s banked field goal and Hannah Loomis’ basket for a 43-43 tie. Kruleski’s final score gave Holcomb a 45-43 lead.
After a Taryn Warren free throw, Unruh scored off a steal for a 46-45 lead with 70 seconds left. Unruh converted a free throw for a 47-45 lead.
The Longhorns missed two chances to tie. Holcomb’s Rian Rodriguez missed two free throws with 26 seconds left. After Unruh added a final free throw, Holcomb’s Blair Holladay’s missed a 3-pointer to tie.
“We kept battling and rallied again. We’re very proud for statying focused and staying in the game,” said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. “That shows we won’t back down. We made big offensive plays and big defensive stops.”
The Panthers outscored the Longhorns 22-9 after trailing 36-26 midway through the third period. The momentum swung when Holcomb’s dominating Nicole Ruda drew quick fouls after a 12-rebound first half that led the Longhorns to a 26-8 rebounding domination.
“We didn’t play all that well,” Beck said. “But we’ve got a group that battles.”
Great Bend’s Allyson Kaiser started a 10-0 surge with a 3-pointer followed by Emily Hall’s two free throws. Unruh fed Kaiser for a 3-pointer and Unruh scored after a steal for a 36-36 tie.
Unruh tied her career high with 22 points. She accounted for 14 first-half points and an assist. Kaiser added 15 points.
When Unruh missed time with fouls, the Panthers’ offense slowed down. Holcomb took advantage to lead 28-24 that stretched out to 36-26 when when McKee Blackburn scored following six free throws.
Paige Jones led Holcomb with 13 points and Rian Rodriguez added eight points.
Holcomb 12 12 14 7 – 45
Great Bend 17 11 8 12 – 48
HOLCOMB–Jones 2-9 9-13 13; Rodriguez 4-6 0-5 8; Holladay 1-8 4-6 7; Ruda 3-7 0-2 6; McVey 1-6 0-0 2; Blackburn 2-4 0-1 4; Cornelsen 0-1 0-0 0; Kruleski 1-4 3-4 5; Totals 14-45 16-31 45
GREAT BEND (2-0)–Unruh 7-10 6-10 22; Kaiser 6-12 1-4 15; Hall 1-3 2-2 4; Hannah Loomis 1-2 1-2 3; Spray 1-7 0-2 2; Emma Loomis 0-5 1-2 1; Harbaugh 0-1 0-2 0; Warren 0-2 1-4 1; Totals 16-42 12-28 48
3-pointers–H 1-14 (Holladay 1-4, Blackburn 0-2, McVey 0-3, Jones 0-4); GB 4-10 (Spray 0-2, Unruh 2-4, Kaiser 2-4)
