The Great Bend Middle School 8th-grade basketball team defeated Holcomb 20-13 and Abilene 29-23 to improve to a 2-1 record in a three-team round robin tournament Saturday.
Panther Makenna Tinkler converted two free throws for a 2-0 lead after one quarter until the teams started to score.
“We struggled missing several shots right under the basket through the first quarter,” said Great Bend coach Kyle Jeffrey.
Great Bend outscored Holcomb 8-0 in the fourth quarter for a 20-13 victory.
Abilene jumped on the Lady Panthers for a 15-8 lead at halftime. The Panthers crawled back into the game running three different full-court presses. The momentum swung when Tinkler hit a deep 2-pointer to end the 3rd quarter.
“It was awesome to the see the girls so excited after Tink hit that shot just inside the arc,” Jeffrey said.
That energy stayed with the girls the rest of the game closing the day with a 29-23 victory, moving the Lady Panthers to 2-1.
HOLCOMB SCORING—Alayna Irwin 6, Taryn Warren 6, Makenna Tinkler 4, Melyne Fletchall 2, Daltrey Kurth 2.
ABILENE SCORING—Melyne Fletchall 7, Daltrey Kurth 6, Steele Brack 6, Taryn Warren 4, Makenna Tinkler 4, Emma Loomis 2.