jmisunas@gbtribune.com
PANTHERS 35, INDIANS 20
It was a perfect payback for Great Bend Panther Candice Smith.
Smith scored a game high eight points and knocked down four consecutive free throws to spark a dominating 35-20 basketball victory over rival Hays High Tuesday. Smith missed a potential game-clinching free throw in a heartbreaking 37-36 first-game loss to the Indians.
The Panthers dominated defensively with a aggressive 2-3 zone that also denied perimeter shooting. The Indians shot 20 percent and committed 17 turnovers. The Indians made 2 of 18 field goals from 3-point range.
The zone defense accomplished the goals Great Bend coach Carrie Minton wanted.
"The zone gave us better rebounding position tonight," Minton said. "The first game, we gave up too many second-chance points. It also allowed us to contest their outside shooting."
The Panthers (4-12, 1-4 WAC) continued their recent upward trend with excellent passing and effective defensive teamwork. Great Bend converted 5 of 14 3-pointers to outscore the Indians 15-6 from long range. Alyssa Herter, Jaclynn Schroeder, Jenna Mauler, Sydney Unruh and Halle Latham knocked down 3-pointers. Herter, Mauler and Unruh added five points apiece.
Unruh was her usual sparkplug with excellent ballhandling and a trio of assists that turned into eight points. Smith benefited from one of Unruh's assists and added four free throws down the stretch.
"It was everyone contributing, which is nice to see," Minton said. "The girls are gaining confidence."
Hays High's Tasiah Nunnry was limited to five points on 2 of 9 shooting. Carly Lang led the Indians with eight points. Hays (4-11, 1-4 WAC) converted 8 of 41 field goals.
Great Bend (4-12, 1-4 WAC) had played Dodge City and unbeaten 6A Liberal close in recent games, a sure sign of improvement.
"We're making progress," Minton said. "The girls played a tremendous defensive game against Liberal last week. We're a work in progress, but we're definitely getting better."
Hays High 6 2 8 4 — 20
Great Bend 9 10 12 4 — 35
HAYS HIGH (4-11, 1-4)—Nunnery 2-9 0-2 5; Lang 3-9 1-2 8; Schaffer 0-5 0-0 0; Green 0-3 1-4 1; Ruder 3-8 0-0 6; Lummus 0-6 0-0 0; M. Robben 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 8-41 2-8 20.
GREAT BEND (4-12, 1-4)—Sydney Unruh 2-9 0-1 5, Herter 2-2 0-0 5; Schroeder 1-4 0-0 3; Mauler 2-3 0-0 5; Warren 1-4 2-2 4; Harbaugh 1-5 0-2 2; Latham 1-2 0-0 3; Smith 2-7 4-4 8; Totals 12-36 6-9 35.
3-pointers—HH 2-18 (Nunnery 1-5, Lang 1-3, Schaffer 0-3, Green 0-1, M. Robben 0-1, Lummus 0-5), GB 5-14 (Herter 1-1, Schroeder 1-3, Mauler 1-2, Unruh 1-6, Latham 1-1, Smith 0-1).
WAC GIRLS
Liberal 5-0 16-0
Dodge City 3-2 13-3
Garden City 2-2 8-8
Hays High 1-4 4-11
Great Bend 1-4 4-12
TUESDAY—Great Bend 35, Hays High 20; Liberal 47, Guymon, Okla. 37; Hugoton 48, Garden City 37; Dodge City 51, Ulysses 23
