Panthers’ rally falls short at GC
BY JIM MISUNAS
GARDEN CITY — The Great Bend girls trailed Garden City by 17 points and a 13th consecutive basketball loss appeared virtually assured.
But Great Bend’s trio of Sydney Unruh, Jenna Mauler and Candice Smith nearly pulled off a miraculous rally.
Garden City survived the Panthers’ rally 57-53 after Salazar preserved a one-point lead with a late-minute steal.
Unruh and Mauler combined for 21 fourth-quarter points. Unruh scored 14 fourth-quarter points after converting one shot in her last seven quarters. Mauler scored a team high 18 points. Smith enjoyed a double/double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Unruh fed Mauler for a 3-pointer to slice the lead to 53-52 with 42 seconds left. Salazar saved the Buffaloes when she earned a steal after missing a free throw. Salazar converted three free throws to seal the victory.
Nateara Beasley led Garden City (10-7, 2-3 WAC) with 18 points and Salazar added 16 points. The Buffaloes outscored the Panthers 24-6 from 3-point range.
The Panthers outplayed and outworked the Buffaloes after trailing 33-18 at halftime. A lackluster first half dug a huge hole as the Buffaloes shot 50 percent.
“We had a tremendous effort from a lot of ladies,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “Jenna Mauler stepped up and took charge. Candice Smith had a double/double. I’m extremely proud of the girls. They dug in and fought back. They continue to work.”
Minton said the Panthers would’ve won had they put two halves together.
Great Bend (1-16, 0-6 WAC) owns the worst record in the west. The Panthers are locked into a play-in game for the 5A post-season playoffs.
“We need that type of effort we had in the second half next week,” Minton said. “We were extremely disappointed with their first half effort.”
Great Bend
8 10 13 22–53
Garden City 16 17 9 15–57
GREAT BEND (1-16, 0-6)—Mauler 5-10 7-10
18, Sydney Unruh 7-20 1-2 16, Smith 5-9 2-4 12, Warren 2-3 2-5 6, Latham 0-3
1-2 1, Keller 0-2 0-0 0, Wasinger 0-2 0-0 0, Kaylee Unruh 0-3 0-0 0, Totals 19
13-22 53
GARDEN CITY (10-7, 2-3)—Beasley 7-12 0-3 18, Salazar 4-7 6-11 16,
Franco 2-2 2-4 6, Rodriguez 1-8 3-7 6, Tabor 1-5 0-0 3, Flores 1-3 1-1 3,
Simmons 1-1 0-0 2, Turner 1-3 1-3 3, Totals 18-41 13-28 57
3-pointers—GB 2-12
(S. Unruh 1-4, Mauler 1-4, Keller 0-1, Warren 0-1, K. Unruh 0-2); GC 8-18
(Beasley 4-6, Salazar 2-4, Tabor 1-3, Rodriguez 1-4, Turner 0-1). Rebounds—GB
45 (Smith 12); GC 37 (Flores 6, Rodriguez 6)
WAC GIRLS
Liberal 6-0 17-0
Hays High 5-2 11-5
Dodge City 2-2 7-9
Garden City 2-3 10-7
Great Bend 0-6 1-16
TUESDAY—Hays High 60, Great Bend 29; Liberal 62, Guymon Okla. 39; Dodge City 41, Ulysses 40; Garden City 42, Hugoton 31
FRIDAY—Garden City 57, Great Bend 53; Liberal 55, Hays High 34
SATURDAY—Liberal 47, Dodge City 36
TUESDAY—Hays-TMP at Great Bend; Garden City at Dodge City; Hays High at Abilene; Cimarron at Liberal
LIBERAL (6-0, 17-0)—W Holcomb 66-19; W Guymon, Okla. 44-20; W Dumas, Texas 51-31; W Wichita Trinity 51-36; W Scott City 60-26; W Perryton, Texas 59-38; W *Hays High 61-42; W *Garden City 53-22; Salina (W Wichita West 51-29; W Salina South 54-37; W Salina Central 59-45); W Hugoton 52-31; W *Great Bend 74-32; W Guymon, Okla 62-39; W * Hays High 55-34; W *Dodge City 47-36; 2-12—Cimarron; 2-16—*at Great Bend; 2-18—*at Dodge City; 2-19—*Garden City
HAYS HIGH (4-2, 11-5)—W Great Bend 79-44; L Manhattan 39-49; L Millwood, Okla. 40-57; Colby 47-44; W Pratt; L *Liberal 42-61; W *Great Bend 64-41; Colby Tournament (W Goodland 59-36; W Scott City 68-50; W Colby 50-19); W Salina Central; L Salina South 49-54, OT; W *Dodge City 41-37; W *Garden City 41-38; W *Great Bend 60-29; L *Liberal; 2-12—at Abilene; 2-15—*at Garden City; 2-19—*Dodge City; 2-22--Abilene
DODGE CITY (2-2, 7-9)—W Junction City 55-22; L Newton 40-53; L Maize 44-61; W Hugoton 50-46; W Guymon, Okla. 45-31; L McPherson 52-66; W Cimarron 54-40; L Ulysses 31-42; W *Great Bend 54-40; Newton Tournament (L Ulysses 24-29, L Wichita SE 39-69); W *Garden City 46-39; L *Hays High 37-41; W Ulysses 41-40; L *Liberal 36-47; 2-12—*Garden City; 2-15—*at Great Bend; 2-18—*Liberal; 2-19—*Hays High
GARDEN CITY (2-3, 10-7)—W Guymon, Okla. 59-50; W Coronado, Colo. 39-22; W Palmer Ridge, Colo. 46-27; W Holcomb 43-29; L Deer Creek, Colo. 45-52; W Junction City 64-41; W *Great Bend 47-29; L *Liberal 22-53; L Ulysses 42-49; Newton Tournament (L Andover Central 38-52; L Newton 33-35; W Kapaun-Mt. Carmel 40-37); L *Dodge City 39-46; W Guymon, Okla. 49-45; L *Hays High 38-41; W Hugoton 42-31; W *Great Bend 57-53; 2-12—*at Dodge City; 2-15—*Hays High; 2-19—*at Liberal
GREAT BEND (0-6, 1-16)—L Hays High 44-79; L St. Thomas Aquinas 41-71; L Hays-TMP 50-53; W Junction City 60-25; L Salina Central 42-71; L Hutchinson 48-50; L Buhler 45-53; L *Garden City 29-47; L *Hays 41-64; L *Dodge City 40-54; Topeka (L Shawnee Heights 15-52; L SM East 40-44; L Shawnee Heights 33-51); L Wamego 40-58; L *Liberal 32-74; L * Hays High 29-60; L *Garden City 53-57; 2-12—Hays-TMP; 2-15—*Dodge City; 2-16—*at Liberal
