LIBERAL— Solidifying their hold on second place in the Western Athletic Conference basketball standings, the Great Bend High School Lady Panthers improved to 13-6 overall and 5-2 in league play after beating Liberal 61-39 on Saturday evening.
The glowing statistic of the night was the Lady Panthers converting a collective 16 of 18 free throws in the first half and finishing 19 for 25 overall — impressive numbers at any level.
Morgan Harwood scored a game-high 18 points, Kylee Spray scored 10, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Tarynn Stueder added nine, as Great Bend was in command from the start, leading 14-8 after one quarter and stretching its lead to 32-17 at halftime after an 18-9 burst in the second quarter.
Spray had two of the Lady Panthers’ four 3-point hits.
“One of the things that I was impressed with was that we played four good quarters,” Great Bend head coach Carrie Minton said. “We put on some good defensive pressure full-court.
“We had a great night shooting free throws.”
The blowout was in full motion after the Lady Panthers went on a 12-7 run in the third quarter for a 44-24 advantage.
Jai Chapman led Liberal (4-14, 0-6) with 17 points.
Great Bend closes the regular season and conference play on Friday night, traveling to Hays, before starting Class 5A sub-state play the following week.
Hays sits in third place in the WAC with a 3-3 mark.

                                                                                                                                  — Mack McClure

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Western Athletic Conference

GIRLS

Saturday

At Liberal

Great Bend 61, Liberal 39
GREAT BEND (13-6, 5-2)
     Morgan Harwood 9 0-0 18, Tarynn Stueder 2 4-8 8, McKenna Mauler 1 4-4 6, Kaylie Doll 0 4-4 4, Kelsie Doll 2 2-2 6, Kylie Spray 3 2-3 10, Lauren Welsch 1 0-0 3, Hannah Hildebrand 0 1-2 1, Hannah Mauler 0 2-2 2, Madison Unruh 0 0-0 0, Kalee Maneth 0 0-0 0, Peyton Burkhart 0 0-0 0, Mariah Stein 0 0-0 0. Totals 19 19-25 61.
LIBERAL (4-14, 0-6)
     Jai Chapman 7 0-0 15, Marisol Regaldo 5 1-3 11, Kelly Ramirez 2 1-1 5, Alicia Collins 0 1-2 1, Stephanie Sanchez 1 0-0 2, Megan Larkin 2 1-2 5. Totals 17 4-11 39. Totals 17 4-11 39.
Great Bend    14    18    12    17  —  61
Liberal             8      9      7    15  —  39
     Three-point goals — Great Bend 4 (Spray 2, Welsch, Unruh); Liberal 1 (Chapman).