BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The No. 3 state-ranked 5A Emporia girls had a 45-39 basketball victory sealed over Great Bend when Sadie Spray delivered a late-game message.

Never say die.

Spray sprinted up the court and made a leaping block on an attempt by Emporia’s Lexsey DeWitt in the final seconds. Spray played her typical all-around game with 18 points, several steals, blocks and alert defense.

Spray's final basket off a steal gave the Panthers a 33-31 lead. Emporia's Rebecca Snyder scored back-to-back baskets and DeWitt hit a 3-pointer for a 38-33 lead. The Spartans outscored the Panthers 12-3 in the final minutes as Great Bend committed five turnovers.

Emporia effectively killed time off the clock in the final 3:30 to prevent a Panther comeback. 

The Panthers provided the home crowd with a hustling defensive effort that held the Spartans to 15 of 45 shooting by challenging every pass and shot attempt. Great Bend (4-2) had a shot of upsetting Emporia (6-0).

"Our girls rose to the challenge against a state-ranked basketball team," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "Emilee Hall did a nice job inside against Snyder and kept her off balance. Emporia provides tough match-ups. We came out and competed for four quarters. We played unselfish basketball and saw our girls step up."

Snyder scored 19 hard-earned points, mostly off second-chance points and super passing despite superb defense by Panther Emilee Hall. Addie Kirmer (12) and DeWitt (10) scored in double figures. 

The Spartans swung the momentum with full-court pressure defense that forced 17 second-half turnovers. The Spartans earned steals by beating the Panthers to the pass. Great Bend defended the Spartans' half-court offense superbly, but the extra offensive possessions off turnovers proved to be the difference.

Kirmer hit a pair of baskets and passed to Snyder for two scores for a 30-23 lead. Paige Thexton and Spray hit 3-pointers for a 30-29 score after three quarters.

"Emporia put the pressure on us," Beck said. "We made the same mistake multiple times, but we'll learn from that."

Spray scored 12 of 17 second-half points for the Panthers. Hall added 11 points. Great Bend led 22-19 at halftime behind a solid first half with eight turnovers.

Emporia 12 7 11 15  – 45

Great Bend 12 10 7 10 – 39

EMPORIA (6-0)—Snyder 6-10 7-10 19, Kirmer 4-14 3-4 12, DeWitt 4-11 0-0 10, Pearson 1-1 0-2 2, Gutierrez 0-1 2-2 2, Bennett 0-4 0-1 0, Shivley 0-3 0-1 0, Hamilton 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 15-45 12-20 45

GREAT BEND (4-2)—Spray 6-20 4-6 18, Hall 4-7 3-4 11, Thexton 1-3 2-2 5, Reimer 1-2 0-0 2, Feist 1-3 0-0 2, Premer 0-4 0-1 0, Totals 13-39 9-13 39

3-pointers—E 3-15 (Dewitt 2-7, Kirmer 1-6, utierrez 0-1, Bennett 0-2), GB 4-11 (Spray 3-7, Thexton 1-2, Feist 0-2)