Haven Wildcats edge Panthers for title
BY JIM MISUNAS
KINGMAN – Great Bend’s fourth and final attempt to take the lead came up short as Haven’s girls scored the game’s final four points for a hard-fought 40-35 championship victory in Saturday’s Kingman Basketball Classic.
It was nearly a historic victory for the Panthers.
Great Bend’s girls (3-1) had not qualified for a tournament basketball championship since 2014.
Haven freshman Avery Brawner converted two free throws and Sadie Estill made a game-clinching field goal off an inbounds play.
It was a classic matchup between Great Bend coach Cindy Beck and Haven coach Dwight Roper. Both teams worked patiently for quality shots and showed off a variety of defenses to keep the other team off balance.
The Panthers dictated the tempo after trailing 21-11, but came up one field goal short of a championship. Haven’s hot-shooting Kinley Jacques converted three consecutive 3-pointers in the first quarter until defensive ace Sadie Spray helped shut out Jacques in the final three quarters.
Haven made 9 of 32 field goals after a hot first quarter. Great Bend’s defense performed well enough for a victory.
“We dug ourselves a hole,” said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. “Our girls battled back, but they came out on top. We got some stops, which is what we needed.”
Haven’s Avery Brawner and Estill each scored 10 points. Jacques and Sienna DeFrain each scored nine points.
The Panthers’ offense needed to execute a shade better against a well-coached Haven defense.
Makenzie Premer and Sadie Spray each scored 10 points. Haven’s defensive specialist Sadie Estill held Spray to 3-of-13 field goal shooting. The Panthers made 13 of 37 field goals and committed 17 turnovers. Spray and Emilee Hall earned All-Tournament honors.
“Haven took us out of what we wanted to do,” Beck said. “They came out and pressured us. That frustrated us and got us out of our comfort zone. Kenzie Premer did a nice job. We got some shots we wanted, but they didn’t fall. You’ve got to go out and execute and learn from it. We’ve got to get back to work and get better.”
HAVEN 40, GREAT BEND 35
Haven 17 6 6 11 – 40
Great Bend 9 11 7 8 – 35
HAVEN (4-0)—Avery Brawner 3-5 4-4 10, Estill 5-8 0-0 10, DeFrain 4-0 1-3 9, Jacques 3-9 0-0 9, Bland 1-4 0-0 2, Brieann Brawner 0-5 0-0 0, Totals 16-41 5-7 40
GREAT BEND (3-1)—Spray 3-13 2-4 10, Premer 4-5 2-2 10, Hall 4-8 0-0 8, Feist 1-9 2-2 4, Thexton 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 13-37 6-8 35
3-pointers—H 3-8 (Jacques 3-8, B. Brawner 0-2); GB 3-9 (Spray 2-6, Thexton 1-2, Feist 0-1)
KINGMAN GIRLS—1ST—Haven 40, Great Bend 35; 3RD—Sunrise def. Conway Springs; 5TH—Kingman 56, Sterling 44; Sterling 56, Great Bend 50 (OT); Haven 49, Wichita Sunrise 38; Great Bend 35, Conway Springs 21; Sunrise 44, Kingman 42; Conway Springs 45, Sterling 30; Haven 38, Kingman 27
