BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
MCPHERSON – For half a quarter, the Great Bend Panthers enjoyed a near-perfect offensive start. The Panthers converted a season high 10 3-pointers.
Perennial powerhouse McPherson led 16-13 after 41/2 minutes as the Panthers Alyssa Herter converted a pair of 3-pointers and Carley Brack knocked down a 3-pointer.
McPherson’s sheer talent and depth eventually overpowered the Panthers 86-47 in Tuesday’s non-league basketball game. The No. 2 4A Bullpups ignited their dominating rout with a stunning 25-3 scoring run over 10 minutes for a 41-16 lead.
Great Bend (3-12) heads to Dodge City Friday for a third consecutive road game.
University of Oklahoma signee Taylor Robertson scored 31 points with six assists. Robertson broke McPherson’s school scoring record of 43 points against Great Bend two years ago in an 80-65 victory at McPherson.
There were bright spots in the Panthers’ third-consecutive rout against a state-ranked team. The Panthers converted 10 of 20 3-pointers keyed by Herter’s trio of 3-point shots. Great Bend shot 33 percent on 2-pointers against McPherson’s fast-paced and aggressive defense which blocked eight shots.
Herter and Camryn Dunekack each scored nine points and Brack added eight points. The Panthers made 17 of 41 field goals.
“We talked about taking advantage of our scoring opportunities,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “The girls did a nice job moving the basketball and being confident with their shots. It was nice for the girls to see some shots falling in tonight.”
Jenna Mauler, Brack, Jaclynn Schroeder, Sydney Unruh and Kaylee Unruh all connected from 3-point range.
“McPherson’s defense is so strong, that we wanted to push up the court and take open shots when we had them,” Minton said. “That was encouraging to see.”
However, the Bullpups (14-1) featured too much quickness and depth for the Panthers. Hannah Hageman added 11 points. The Bullpups made 9 of 18 3-pointers and shot 59 percent on 34 of 58 field goals. McPherson scored 34 points off 22 Great Bend turnovers. McPherson outscored the Panthers 48-14 in the paint.
“McPherson is a high-quality team, just as good as Manhattan and Derby, which finished first and second in 6A last year,” Minton said. “You have to play a perfect game to play with them.”
Great Bend 13 8 15 11 – 47
McPherson 27 22 23 14 – 86
GREAT BEND (3-12)—Herter 3-4 0-0 9, Dunekack 4-8 1-2 9, Brack 2-9 2-2 8, Clark 1-3 0-0 2, Schroeder 1-2 0-0 3, Mauler 3-5 0-0 8, Sydney Unruh 1-4 0-0 3, Kaylee Unruh 1-4 0-0 2, Mills 1-2 0-1 2, Totals 17-41 3-5 47.
MCPHERSON (14-1)—Robertson 12-18 2-2 31, Hageman 4-5 0-2 11, Schieferecke 1-5 2-2 4, Hett 0-1 0-0 0, Mandi Cooks 0-0 1-2 1, Cassie Cooks 3-4 0-1 6,Ruddle 3-4 0-1 6, Pyle 1-1 0-0 2, Ellet 0-0 0-0 0, Leaf 2-3 3-4 7, Totals.
3-pointers—GB 10-20 (Herter 3-3, Mauler 2-3, Brack 2-5, Schroeder 1-2, S. Unruh 1-1, Unruh 1-4, Dunekack 0-2), M 9-18 (Robertson 5-9, Hageman 3-4, Yowell 1-1, Ruddle 0-1, Pyle 0-1, Sweat 0-1, Hett 0-1). Rebounds—GB 21 (Dunekack 4, Clark 4, Herter 4), M 34 (Pyle 6). Assists—GB 12 (Dunekack 3), M 19 (Robertson 6). Steals—GB 6 (Mauler 3), M 13 (Robertson 3). TO—GB 22, M 11.
WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Hays High...... 4-0.... 10-5
Liberal........... 3-1.... 14-1
Dodge City.... 2-2.... 8-7
Great Bend.... 1-3.... 3-12
Garden City... 0-4.... 4-12
TUESDAY
McPherson 86, Great Bend 47
Ulysses 48, Dodge City 43
Hugoton 50, Garden City 44
Liberal 48, Guymon, Okla. 44
FRIDAY
Great Bend at Garden City
Hays High at Liberal
Nickerson at Dodge City
