BY JIM MISUNAS
BUHLER – After 76 seconds, Great Bend Panther Jenna Mauler was tagged with two fouls.
The trend continued all night as Buhler’s girls survived a foul fest 53-45 in Tuesday’s non-league basketball game. The foul- festival featured 24 first-half fouls and 56 fouls.
The Crusaders converted 25 of 40 free throws to outscore the Panthers by 15 points at the charity stripe.
The taller and more physical Crusaders took advantage inside, but also benefited from some friendly block-charge calls that went their way. Back-to-back block-charging calls swung Buhler’s way in the decisive third period as Sydney Unruh and Kaylee Unruh were tagged with fouls despite outstanding defensive position.
Great Bend 7 11 10 17 –45
Buhler 13 8 14 18 – 53
GREAT BEND (1-6)—Schroeder 2-6 0-1 5, Mauler 0-2 5-6 6, Kaylee Unruh 0-3 0-2 0, Sydney Unruh 2-6 4-6 9, Warren 1-3 0-0 2, Harbaugh 1-3 0-0 2, Latham 7-20 0-2 16, Smith 1-2 1-2 3, Totals 15-48 10-19 45.
BUHLER (3-2)—Owens 5-11 1-2 11, Miller 1-5 3-6 5, Schmidt 0-0 1-2 1, Epp 2-7 6-11 10, Stutterheim 2-3 4-5 8, Hutton 1-6 0-0 2, Mattison 1-3 3-4 5, Schultz 2-7 4-4 8, Specht 0-10-0 0, Moore 0-1 3-6 3, Totals 14-44 25-40 53
3-pointers GB 5-17 (Lathan 2-4, Keller 1-1, Schroeder 1-5, Mauler 0-2, K. Unruh 0-1, S. Unruh 1-3, Smith 0-1), Buhler 0-5 (Miller 0-1, Owens 0-1, Epp 0-1, Mattison 0-1, Schultz 0-1).
GIRLS WESTERN ATHLETIC
Liberal 6-0
Garden City 4-0
Hays High 3-2
Dodge City 2-2
Great Bend 1-6
FRIDAY
Hutchinson High 50, Great Bend 48
Liberal 58, Perryton, Texas 38
TUESDAY
Buhler 53, Great Bend 45
Hays High 49, Pratt 40
