Panthers girls face tall challenge

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

KINGMAN – After breezing past Kingman 59-23 in Friday’s Kingman Classic basketball game, Great Bend’s girls (3-0) will face a physical challenge when they face Wichita Sunrise in Saturday’s championship showdown.

Sunrise (5-1) features a lineup with five physically impressive players measuring at least 5-foot-10. Sunrise typically features international players and has beaten Webb City and Carthage Mo.

That will wait until Saturday night at Kingman.

Makenzie Premer played her finest basketball game of her career with a 14-point, six-steal effort and 6-of-6 free throws that sparked the Panthers to a 17-3 lead after one quarter. The Panthers converted Kingman turnovers into easy transition points. Kingman shot 7 of 37 from the field (19%).

“Makenzie anticipated really well defensively,” said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. “She’s got a good shot and her shot dropped tonight.”

As usual, WAC all-league Sadie Spray, averaging 20 points, contributed 15 points and 9-of-10 free throws to take advantage of Kingman’s zone, which was unable to slow her down in the paint. Spray excelled defensively and had several assists.

“Sadie attacked to the rim and attacked the gaps in their zone,” Beck said.

Reserve sharpshooter Alyssa McCauley provided a pleasant surprise with a 10-point night and a pair of 3-pointers. McCauley converted 2-of-5 shots from long range as the Panthers made 2-of-14 3-pointers.

“Once she got that first one to fall, she hit two in a row, which is a good thing,” Beck said.

The Panthers aggressive mix of full-court and half-court pressure never allowed Kingman to establish an offensive rhythm. Beck likes to rely on the Panthers’ defense to set the tone.

Mission accomplished.

Kingman’s Laney Wood scored 10 points, but her teammates converted 3 of 27 field goals, 11%.

Great Bend 17 18 17 7 – 59

Kingman 3 12 3 5 – 23

GREAT BEND (3-0)—Spray 3-11 9-10 15; Premer 4-9 6-6 14, McCauley 4-7 0-0 10; Thexton 2-6 1-4 5; Nicholson 0-3 0-0 0; Reimer 1-3 21-2 5; Bryant 1-2 1-2 3; Mazouch 2-2 0-0 4; Hall 2-5 1-2 5, Ringo 0-2 0-0 0; Gregg 0-2 0-0 0; Totals 19-52 19-26 59.

KINGMAN (1-2)—Wood 4-10 2-5 10; Bolt 0-1 0-0 0; Pearce-5 0-0 4; Zoeller 0-5 0-0 0; Meng 0-3 1-2 1; Parsons 0-1 2-4 2; McDorman 0-5 4-4 4; Schriner 0-1 0-0 0; Strickland 0-1 0-0 0; Welcher 0-1 0-0 0; Waltner 0-2 0-0 0; Helm 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 7-37 9-15 23.

3-pointers—GB 2-13 (McCauley 2-5, Reimer 0-1, Gregg 0-1, Thexton 0-1, Hall 0-1, Spray 0-4); K (Wood 0-1, Pearce 0-2, McDorman 0-1, Strickland 0-2, Welcher 0-1, Zoeller 0-5)