BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's first-half game plan worked perfectly. The Panther girls led 20-13 at halftime as the Spartans converted 4 of 31 field goals, 13%.
"That's our best half, and the best game we've played this year," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "They left it all out there. We surprised Emporia. They didn't expect us to take charge. Our girls did a nice job with composure and controlling their pressure."
But 5A state-ranked Emporia escaped Great Bend's upset bid 47-39 in Friday's non-league basketball game by outscoring the Panthers 34-19 after halftime. The Spartans (3-2) made 12 second-half free throws before a rowdy holiday crowd.
Great Bend's Sadie Spray was spectacular with 14 points and a solid overall floor game. Taryn Warren hustled inside for 14 points. Emilee Hall added seven points for the Panthers (2-4).
The Spartans swung the momentum with full-court pressure defense that led to six uncontested points in the third quarter for a 28-25 lead. The Panthers didn't move the basketball quickly enough to escape constant double teams on the basketball. The Panthers committed 19 turnovers.
"They came out with pressure and got us frazzled," Beck said. "They got some easy buckets that gave them a cushion. Later in the game, we got tired."
A terrific defensive effort was nearly enough. The Panthers' defensive tandem of Makenzie Premer and Emma Loomis harassed Emporia's Gracie Gilpin into 2 of 16 shooting. The Spartans converted 3 of 22 shots from 3-point range.
"Gilpin caught fire last year and we didn't shut her down," Beck said. "Kenzie Premer did a heck of a job. Emma Loomis stepped up. They made her uncomfortable and kept her off balance. They did a nice job keeping her frazzled."
The Spartans sealed the victory with 10 free throws in the fourth quarter. The Spartans converted 16 of 23 free throws and won the game with transition layups and second-chance points.
Emporia 7 6 15 19 – 47
Great Bend 11 9 5 14 – 39
EMPORIA (3-2)–Gilpin 2-16 7-11 13, Allie Baker 4-10 2-2 10, Snyder 5-8 0-2 10, Kirmer 3-6 2-2 9, Rylee Peak 0-3 0-0 0, Stewart 0-3 0-0 0, Gracia 0-2 0-0 0, Shively 0-3 0-0 0, DeWitt 0-1 2-2 2, Teegan Baker 0-2 3-4 3, Totals 14-54 16-23 47.
GREAT BEND (2-4)–Spray 5-8 3-6 14, Warren 6-8 2-5 14, Hall 2-10 3-4 7, Emma Loomis 1-1 0-0 3, Premer 0-4 1-2 1, Kaiser 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 14-33 9-17 39.
3-pointers–E 3-22 (Gilpin 2-11, Kirmer 1-4, Shively 0-1, DeWitt 0-1, A. Baker 0-5), GB (Spray 1-3, E. Loomis 1-1, Kaiser 0-1, Premer 0-1).
