GREAT BEND GIRLS 46, KINGMAN 32 (5TH) — Alyssa McCauley sparked the offense with a career best 15 points and defensive stopper Meredith Mazouch led the defense along with a season-high 13 points in a 46-32 victory over Kingman in the fifth place Kingman Classic game Saturday.
Great Bend (1-4) earned its first basketball victory of the season. The Panthers converted 14 of 51 field goals (28%) and 16 of 32 free throws (50%).
"It felt good out there today. We played offense and defense very well," McCauley said in a postgame radion interview. "We came together and played as a team."
McCauley converted her first 3-pointer and the Panthers controlled the tempo with an effective half-court trapping defense that forced 24 Kingman turnovers. McCauley shot with confidence offensively. Chayla Prendergast led the offense inside with nine points and double-digit rebounds.
The Panthers led 29-19 at halftime fueled by 18 Kingman turnovers that created extra possessions and fastbreak layups.
Great Bend coach Jade Winter dictated the tempo with the trapping defense.
"We got after it and played our game," Winter said. "When I got in the locker room, the girls said, 'We already celebrated. They jumped up-and-down and screamed."
Kingman's Addi Giefer scored 12 points and Caylor Helm added 10 points.
HAVEN GIRLS 59, PANTHERS 34 — Haven's Avery Brawner converted several layups off turnovers in a 28-point effort to fuel the Wildcats' 59-34 victory over Great Bend. Brawner and the Wildcats converted 28 Panther turnovers into a layup drill.
Brawner outscored Great Bend 17-12 for a 31-12 Haven halftime lead. Great Bend made 4 of 19 field goals with 16 turnovers, scoring 12 points on 37 offensive attempts.
Give the Panther girls credit.
A sleepwalking first half was followed by an aggressive half-court and full-court defense that forced 18 of 30 Haven turnovers after halftime.
Great Bend's Alex Mayers played brilliantly with an 11-point game and superior defense and rebounding. Denver Ringo enjoyed her best game with eight points and stout defensive play.
The Panthers (0-4) have been consistent with either a slow offensive start or a poor third quarter. This time, the Panthers outscored Haven 15-14 in the third quarter to prove they could match Haven's opportunistic defense.
Great Bend basketball coach Jade Winter believes the Panthers must maintain their poise when things are aren't going well.
"We're trying too hard to catch up after we try and dig ourselves out of a hole," Winter said. "We can't afford to get flustered. You've got to take it one shot, one pass, one possession at a time."
Winter liked how Alex Mayers and Ringo responded after losing by 20-plus points. The Panthers are still figuring out a game-day intensity level.
"We need to come out faster," she said. "It's like we have to play 'angry' before we get going."
Great Bend 11 18 11 6 — 46
Kingman 9 10 6 7 — 32
GREAT BEND (FG/3/FT/TP)—McCauley 4-12 (2-8) 5-10 15; Meredith Mazouch 4-9 (0-3) 5-8 13; Prendergast 4-8 1-4 9; Ringo 2-4 2-4 6; Alex Mayers 0-6 (0-4) 2-4 2; Umphres 0-5 (0-4) 0-0 0; Stevie Mayers 0-6 1-2 1; Totals 14-51 (2-19) 16-32 4 6
KINGMAN (FG/3/FT/TP)—Giefer 5-12 2-2 12; Helm 2-5 4-8 10; Watkins 2-7 (0-1) 1-2 5; Jymma DeWeese 1-4 0-2 2; Winsor 0-5 (0-2) 0-0 0; Jayda DeWeese 1-2 0-1 2; Stauffer 0-1 1-2 1; #5 0-0 0-2 0; Totals 11-36 8-19 32
Great Bend 6 6 15 7 — 34
Haven 16 15 14 14 — 59
GREAT BEND (FG/3/FT/TP)—Meredith Mazouch 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2; McCauley 1-8 (1-6) 1-3 4; Prendergast 2-10 1-2 5; Alex Mayers 4-9 (2-5) 1-2 11; Umphres 0-1 0-0 0; Stevie Mayers 1-8 0-2 2; Ringo 2-4 (0-2) 4-5 8; Totals 12-44 (3-14) 7-14 34
HAVEN (FG/3/FT/TP)—Brawner 13-22 (0-2) 2-3 28; Williams (3-4) 0-0 9; Nikkel (0-1) 0-0 0; DeFrain 0-1 0-0 0; Cooperider 1-3 (0-1) 2-2 4; Patry 4-6 1-2 9; Nisly 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0; Totals 25-43 (2-10) 5-7 59
KINGMAN GIRLS CLASSIC—12-13—1ST—Clearwater vs. Sterling; 3RD—Haven vs. Meade; 5TH—Kingman vs. Great Bend;
SECOND ROUND—Haven 59, Great Bend 34; Sterling 55, Kingman 33; FIRST ROUND—Clearwater 53, Great Bend 33; Meade 54, Kingman 33; Sterling 50, Meade 41; Clearwater 34, Haven 31
