BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend's chance to surprise the Liberal girls, the defending Western Athletic Conference champions, was a few minutes away.
But Liberal's Ellie Hatcher broke a 37-37 tie with back-to-back offensive rebound baskets after Panther turnovers.
After Sadie Spray converted a free throw for a 41-38 score, Paige Thexton's 3-point attempt to tie bounced in-and-out. Rylie Hallman clinched Liberal's 43-38 WAC basketball victory with two free throws.
Textbook denial defense by Liberal's Keyona Hall slowed the Panthers' leading scorer Spray in the frantic final minutes. Hall blocked Spray's shot and stopped her from attempting a late 3-pointer.
The intense, fast-paced ballgame featured 14 lead changes as both teams played aggressive defense thanks to near-perfect officiating that allowed the players to work through contact.
"We proved we could play with a state-ranked team," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "We gave full effort and performed our defensive game plan. We shut down their leading scorer Hailey Contreras to two points. Their other players beat us. We'll keep working because we'll get a second chance at them."
Spray played her typical strong game with 15 points and all-around play. Emilee Hall enjoyed a strong performance with 12 points against a tall frontline. Great Bend (6-8, 1-3 WAC) matched Liberal's intensity from start-to-finish. The Panthers travel to Buhler (4-10) Tuesday and play at Garden City (4-12, 1-3 WAC) Friday.
"Emilee Hall did a nice job finding her spots being outsized," Beck said. "The girls rebounded the basketball great. Liberal is long and athletic. We had good offensive looks. We adjusted to the way the game was being called. We've got strong girls."
Liberal (12-2, 3-1 WAC) featured a team-oriented offense with Hall, Hallman and Hallie West each scoring eight points. The Redskins converted 4 of 9 on 3-pointers to outscore the Panthers 12-6.
"We liked that the girls played the game so well that they love," Beck said. "They'll keep learning from this."
The fast-paced first half eight lead changes. Liberal used full-court and half-court pressure schemes that the Panthers handled decently. The Panthers responded with an aggressive zone defense that pressured the Redskins.
Liberal led 18-17 at halftime on Hall's rebound basket. The Redskins converted 7 of 22 shots compared to 8 of 22 attempts by the Panthers. Spray stole the ball twice and forced three Liberal turnovers.
Liberal 9 9 16 9 — 43
Great Bend 8 9 16 5— 38
LIBERAL (12-2, 3-1)—Hailey Contreras 0-4 2-2 2, Hall 3-10 1-2 8, Ormiston 2-3 0-0 6, Terrazas 0-1 0-0 0, Lewis 2-7 1-1 5, Hatcher 3-7 0-0 6, Hallman 3-4 2-2 8, West 3-6 1-2 8, Totals 16-42 7-9 43
GREAT BEND (6-8, 1-3)—Spray 5-16 4-8 15, Hall 6-9 0-0 12, Premer 2-4 0-0 4, Thexton 2-6 0-0 4, Kara Feist 1-4 0-0 3, Totals 16-39 4-8 38
3-pointers—L 4-9 (Ormiston 2-3, Hall 1-2, West 1-2, Contreras 0-2); GB 2-7 (Feist 1-3, Spray 1-4)
WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Liberal 3-1 12-2
Dodge City 3-1 7-8
Hays High 2-2 9-5
Great Bend 1-3 6-8
Garden City 1-3 4-12
1-31—Dodge City 49, Garden City 47; Hays 46, Scott City 32; Liberal 57, Hooker, Okla. 47
2-3—Liberal 43, Great Bend 38; Garden City at Guymon, Okla.; Dodge City 37, Hays 36
LIBERAL (3-1, 12-2)—W Ulysses 49-17; W Scott City 43-30; W Coronado, Colo. 71-38; W Wichita North 51-8; W Hugoton 53-44; L *Hays 59-50; W *Garden City 58-50; L *Dodge City 29-32; Salina (W JC 61-21; W SC 55-46; L Andover 47-48, OT); W Guymon, Okla. 43-42; W Hooker, Okla. 57-47; W *Great Bend 43-38; 2-7—Guymon, Okla.; 2-10—*at Hays; 2-13—at Goodland; 2-18—*Great Bend; 2-21—*Garden City; 2-23—*Dodge City
DODGE CITY (3-1, 7-8)—L McPherson 37-43; L Manhattan 32-37; W Junction City 36-27; L Woodward, Okla. 28-42; L Wichita Southeast 39-51; L Garden Plain 23-33; W Wichita Trinity 50-23; W Guymon, Okla. 49-38; W *Liberal 32-29; L *Great Bend 50-57; McPherson (L Clearwater 38-49; L Manhattan 35-46; W Olathe South 49-37); W *Garden City 49-47; W *Hays 37-36; 2-10—Colby; 2-14—*Garden City; 2-17—*at Great Bend; 2-21—*Hays; 2-23—*at Liberal
HAYS HIGH (2-2, 9-5)—W Newton 45-29; W Washburn 37-33; L Fort Smith, Ark. 36-39; W Manhattan 56-47; W Junction City 51-25; L Wichita North 38-44; L *Liberal 50-59; W *Great Bend 63-45; W *Garden City 52-43; Colby (W Lamar, Colo. 56-34; L Goodland 37-44; W Beloit 56-23); W Scott City 46-32; L *Dodge City 36-37; 2-7—at McPherson; 2-10—*Liberal; 2-14—at Abilene; 2-17—*at Garden City; 2-21—*at Dodge City; 2-24—*Great Bend
GREAT BEND (1-3, 6-8)—W Junction City 47-38; W Sterling 54-21; W Conway Springs 35-21; L Haven 35-40; W Larned 45-34; L Emporia 40-45; L *Garden City 47-54; L *Hays 45-63; L Hutchinson 33-45; W *Dodge City 57-50; Lawrence (L Blue Valley; L Topeka West 40-46; W Free State 64-19); L *Liberal 38-43; 2-7—at Buhler; 2-10—*at Garden City; 2-14—Hays TMP; 2-17—*Dodge City; 2-18—*at Liberal; 2-24—*at Hays
GARDEN CITY (1-3, 4-12)—W Coronado, Colo. 52-50; W Fairview, Colo. 57-31; L Palmer Ridge, Colo. 50-53; W Coronado, Colo. 55-34; L Scott City 34-36; L Wichita Life Prep 47-62; L Wichita East 47-49; W *Great Bend 54-47; L *Liberal 50-58; L *Hays 43-52; Newton (L Carroll 24-57; L SMNW 36-40; L Newton 30-40); L Goodland 45-67; L *Dodge City 47-49; W Guymon, Okla. 64-57; 2-10—*Great Bend; 2-14—*at Dodge City; 2-17—*Hays; 2-21—*at Liberal
