By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
GBHS splits at Liberal
Placeholder Image

GREAT BEND GIRLS 61, LIBERAL 56
LIBERAL — Great Bend’s Lauren Welsch and Carley Brack stunned Liberal with a game-ending 20-5 run for a 61-56 Western Athletic comeback basketball victory. Welsch and Brack combined for 17 fourth-quarter points.
Welsch broke a 56-56 tie on two free throws with four seconds after a blocking foul was whistled against Jada Mickens. After a timeout, Liberal coach Carter Kruger was slapped with a technical foul that handed the Panthers the victory with two free throws and the possession. Welsch added a free throw and Camryn Dunekack converted two free throws for a 61-56 margin. Mickens tied the score at 56 after Welsch’s steal led to a score by Brack for a 56-54 Panther lead.
Brack scored 22 points and Welsch added 20 points.
The Panthers (9-5, 3-1 WAC) stayed one game behind WAC-leader Dodge City while Liberal (8-6, 2-2 WAC) fell two games behind the Red Demons. The Panthers travel to McPherson Tuesday.
Liberal led 51-41 with 5:42 left after 3-pointers by Whitney Ray and Ali Lucero. The Panthers started with a 10-0 run and added a pair of 5-point runs. Diamond Bailey led Liberal with 17 points, and Mickens added 10 points.

LIBERAL 60, GREAT BEND 57
After trailing by 14 points, Great Bend’s rally fell shy again. The Panthers lost 60-57 after digging a 39-25 deficit in the third period. The Panthers drilled nine 3-pointers and scored 32 points in the final 12 minutes. Deladris Green sealed the win with three free throws after Kody Crosby’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 56-54.
Jacob Murray led the Panthers (3-11, 1-3 WAC) with 18 points and Konner Ireland (12) and Kody Crosby (11) scored in double figures. Green led the Redskins with 26 points and Kylan Thomas added 11.
“We played well enough to steal one. Hats off to our kids who gave a tremendous effort. We had to fight quite a bit of adversity,” said Great Bend coach Chris Battin. “We gave up too many offensive rebounds and putbacks.”

GIRLS
Great Bend 14 13 11 23 — 61
Liberal 12 13 16 15 — 56
GB—Brack 22, Welsch 20, Dunekack 7, Dreiling 4, Burkhart 4, Ireland 3, Warren 1.

BOYS
Great Bend 9 14 19 15 — 57
Liberal 15 17 13 15 — 60