BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
ROZEL — At times, the Pawnee Heights girls played winning basketball. They worked the ball inside effectively and earned high quality shots.
But Bucklin’s first-half 10-point lead was enough to hold off the hustling Tigers 43-35 in a Southern Plains Iroquois basketball game. The Tigers (1-6, 0-3 SPIAA) outscrapped and outshot the Lady Aces after halftime.
The Tigers got as close as 32-27, but they missed four chances to start the fourth period.
Tricia Hokanson led Bucklin with 16 points and Hannah Klusman scored 10 points. The Red Aces beat the Tigers inside with superior height and physical play.
Katie Amspecaker led the Tigers’ rally with 15 points and Ashlee Miller score 10 points and drew several defensive charging calls. The game featured three seniors between the two teams.
“We’re improving,” said Tiger coach Kate Reece. “We’re showing signs of getting better defensively. We played OK tonight. We still struggle at times to score inside. But Katie Amspacker gets playing better. She was a bright spot tonight.”
BUCKLIN 43, TIGERS 35
Bucklin 9 16 7 11 — 43
PH 9 6 12 8 — 35
BUCKLIN—Birney 2-7 0-2 4; Collins 3-8 1-2 8; Hokanson 7-13 2-4 16; Klusman 5-9 0-1 10; Mazerac 2-7 1-4 5; Totals 19-44 4-13 43.
PAWNEE HEIGHTS—Ashlee Miller 6-18 0-1 12; Allison Lupfer 0-2 0-0 0l Shana Ditges 3-9 0-1 6; Regan Carlson 0-2 0-0 0; Jacelyn Salmans 1-3 0-2 2; Katie Amspacker 5-12 5-5 15; Nicole Roberts 0-2 0-0 0; Totals 15-48 5-9 35.
3-point goals—Bucklin (Collins 1).
SO. PLAINS IROQUOIS GIRLS
Kiowa County 3-0 7-0
South Gray 3-0 5-1
Minneola 2-0 4-2
South Central 2-1 5-1
Spearville 2-1 4-2
Ingalls 1-1 5-1
Hodgeman Co 1-1 4-3
Fowler 1-2 4-3
Bucklin 1-2 2-4
Satanta 0-2 1-6
Pawnee Heights 0-3 1-6
Ashland 0-3 1-6
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Kiowa County 48, Bucklin 29
Minneola 56, Pawnee Heights 22
So. Central 55, Hodgeman Co. 19
South Gray 49, Spearville 48
Sublette 69, Satanta 35
Ingalls 51, Ashland 21
Fowler 51, Skyline 29
MONDAY’S GAME
Hodgeman County 50, Fowler 49
TUESDAY’S GAMES
Bucklin 43, Pawnee Heights 35
Satanta 57, Deerfield 26
Kiowa County 56, Ashland 30
