BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunasgbtribune.com
MCPHERSON — Give the Great Bend girls basketball team credit for their best effort.
No. 1 5A McPherson drilled 11 3-pointers to power past the Panthers 66-24 in Wednesday's substate semifinal. McPherson, a nine-time state basketball champion, dominated every phase of the game. The talented Bullpups featured too much height and skill for the undersized Panthers to handle.
The Panthers kept their poise and executed their game plan at the outset. Alyssa Herter hit a 3-pointer and Taryn Warren added a basket for a 6-4 lead. Sydney Unruh and Jenna Mauler each scored six points. The Panthers converted 9 of 35 field goals for 26 percent.
"We didn't force things. They worked hard and did what we asked them to do," said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. "We knew what we were up against."
McPherson's aggressive fullcourt pressure paid quick dividends. The early back-breaking sequence occurred when Grace Pyle hit a pair of 3-pointers and Lauren Labertew and Kassidy Beam added 3-pointers for a quick 12-0 scoring run and a 16-6 lead. Thirteen first-half Panther turnovers were converted into 22 points by McPherson for a 36-13 halftime lead. The Bullpups converted 6 of 11 first-half 3-pointers to outscore the Panthers 18-6.
Pyle scored 22 points and converted five 3-pointers. Labertew, Kassidy Beam and Ella Schmid each hit a pair of 3-pointers. Beam scored 12 points and Labertew added 10 points.
"The floodgates opened and they hit four in a row," Minton said. "It was fast. We had to know where their shooters were. A lot of credit to them. It's tough to defend a team that can shoot the ball like that."
McPherson (20-1) scored 33 points on 3-pointers and 26 points inside the stripe. McPherson plays WIchita-Kapaun Mt, Carmel in Saturday's 5A substate championship. McPherson coach Chris Strathman earned his 300th high school coaching victory.
The 5-16 Panthers improved four wins from last year behind steady improvement. Panther seniors graduating are Alyssa Herter, Jaclynn Schroeder and Jenna Mauler for a team that returns plenty of varsity experience.
"We had girls who stepped up worked their tails off," Minton said. "We appreciate every ounce of effort they gave us. We're thankful to coach them and they have a lot to be proud of."
Great Bend 6 7 9 2 — 24
McPherson 17 19 19 11 — 66
GREAT BEND (5-16)—Sydney Unruh 2-9 2-3 6, Mauler 2-8 0-0 6, Herter 1-2 0-0 3, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Schroeder 0-4 0-0 0, Hannah Loomis 1-1 0-0 2, Warren 2-4 0-0 4, Latham 1-5 1-1 3, Kaiser 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 9-35 3-4 24.
MCPHERSON (20-1)—Grace Pyle 7-9 3-4 22, Beam 5-10 0-0 12, Labertew 3-5 2-2 10, Ruddle 2-9 1-2 5, Schieferecke 0-1 0-0 0, Cooks 4-8 0-0 8, Schmid 2-4 0-0 6, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Malm 0-2 1-2 1, Buettgenbach 1-1 0-0 2, Totals 24-50 7-10 66.
3-pointers—GB 3-13 (Mauler 2-7, Herter 1-1, Schroeder 0-1, Unruh 0-4), Mc 11-19 (Pyle 5-6, Labertew 2-2, Beam 2-3, Schmid 2-4, Malm 0-1, Ruddle 0-3). Rebounds—GB 27 (Warren 6), Mc 27 (Ruddle 5). Assists—GB 3 (Mauler 1, Schroeder 1, Warren 1), Mc 15 (Pyle 3). Steals—GB 2 (Herter 1, Unruh 1), Mc 15 (Pyle 6). TO—GB 25, Mc 8.
