BY JIM MISUNAS
HUTCHINSON – A splendid performance by Great Bend’s girls was decided on a final agonizing possession.
A tying attempt by Sydney Unruh missed as Hutchinson High escaped with a hard-fought 50-48 non-league basketball victory over Great Bend’s girls Friday.
Unruh drove into the lane and was bounced backwards after drawing contact from Salthawk Lexi Williams. No foul was whistled as the final buzzer sounded.
Great Bend outscored the Salthawks 21-0 on 3-pointers, converted a higher free throw percentage and committed two fewer turnovers.
The hard-luck Panthers (1-5) simply did everything but win. The Panthers visit Buhler Tuesday.
“It’s real frustrating for the girls because they did a lot of things really well,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “We shot the ball extremely well.”
Jenna Mauler scored 16 points, 14 in the first half, and drilled four 3-pointers as the Panthers converted seven 3-pointers. Sydney Unruh scored 16 points for the Panthers (1-5).
The Panthers executed their offense superbly, driving into the lane, then kicking back to Mauler and Sydney Unruh for 3-pointers.
Mauler converted her fourth 3-pointer on her only second-half shot and Candice Smith added a 3-point play for a 41-35 Panther lead halfway through the third period.
The game’s momentum shifted quickly.
Hutchinson shut out the Panthers for eight minutes while reeling off 12 consecutive points for a 47-41 lead. Salthawks Jayla Bynum and McKenzie Hefley each scored two inside baskets and Hutchinson added two fast-break scores.
“When we picked up our defensive intensity, it helped our offense,” Minton said. “We turned it over and didn’t execute a few times. We had some opportunities.”
Sydney Unruh scored six consecutive points to slice Hutchinson’s lead to 49-48. Tina Robertson made a free throw for a 50-48 lead, setting up the game’s final sequence.
Gabby Posch led Hutchinson (3-1) with 10 points. The Salthawks made 21 field goals behind superior inside height and strength. All five starters scored at least eight points.
GB 15 15 11 7 – 48
HHS 15 12 14 9 – 50
GB (1-5)—Mauler 4-6 4-4 16, Sydney Unruh 5-17 4-6 16, Smith 3-8 3-3 9, Schroeder 2-5 0-0 5, Harbaugh 0-3 1-2 1, Latham 0-1 1-2 1, Wasinger 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 14-41 13-17 48
HH (3-1)—Posch 4-8 2-5 10, Robertson 4-12 1-4 9, Bynum 3-10 3-4 9, Krol 3-10 2-3 8, Armbrust 4-7 0-1 8, Williams 0-0 0-4 0, 21-51 8-20 50
3-pointers—GB 7-14 (Mauler 4-5, S. Unruh 2-7, Schroeder 1-1, Latham 0-1), HH 0-7 (Krol 0-1, Posch 0-2, Robertson 0-4).
