By Jim Misunas
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS — Sharpshooter Morgan Kottas sparked a 10-1 run that rallied the Great Bend girls basketball team past Olathe North 42-36 Thursday in the Gerald Mitchell Hays Shootout.
Kottas drilled a 3-pointer for 35-35 tie, and Carly Dreiling gave the Panthers the lead for good with a driving shot for a 37-36 lead with just under two minutes left. The Panthers sealed the Eagles’ fate with five free throws. Carley Brack converted three free throws and Camryn Dunekack added a pair of free throws for a 42-36 margin.
The Panthers qualify for Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinals at Hays High School against Hays High or Colby.
The Panthers dominated the boards 19-11 in the second half and committed just two turnovers to earn extra offensive possessions. The Panthers finished 12 of 40 from the field, keyed by four 3-pointers. The Eagles shot 14 of 55, including one 3-pointer.
Great Bend coach Carrie Minton said the Panthers executed much better defensively in the second half.
“We knew their post player No. 21 (Brooklyn Anderson) was a key to their team,” Minton said. “Our post players did a good defensive job in the second half. We crashed the boards and did a much better job.”
Olathe North led 20-16 at halftime on the Eagles’ lone 3-pointer. The Eagles opened a 25-19 lead at the start of the second half. But Camryn Dunekack, Carly Dreiling and Carley Brack scored for a 25-25 tie.
Dreiling and Brack scored 11 points apiece and Kottas added nine points. Lexy Watts led the Eagles with 13 points and Brooklyn Anderson added 12 points.
GREAT BEND 42, OLATHE NORTH 36
Olathe North 9 11 9 7 — 36
Great Bend 9 7 12 14 — 42
Olathe North—Lexy Watts 6 1-3 13; Brooklyn Anderson 6 0-1 12; Jaida Kenana 2 3-5 7; Quentella Neal 1 1-3 4; Totls 15 5-12 36.
Great Bend—Carly Dreiling 4 3-5 11; Carley Brack 3 4-8 11; Morgan Kottas 3 0-0 9; Camryn Dunekack 1 3-4 5; Kate Warren 0 4-6 4; Kaylee Unruh 1 0-0 2; Brooklyn Burkhart 0 0-0 0; Keely Ireland 0 0-0 0; Totals 12 14-23 42.
3-point goals—ON (Neal 1); GB (Kottas 3, Brack 1).
Hays High girls 51, Colby 41
Hays High defeated Colby 51-41. Hays was led by Talyn Kleweno with 17 points and 12 points by Haley George. Audra Schmeidler scored in double figures for the 16th time in her career adding 11. Colby was led by 17 from Brenly Terrell and 11 by Allie Friesen. Hays plays Great Bend in Friday’s semifinals.
Colby climbed within 41-36 when Schmeidler hit a 3-pointer and Nicole Dinkel added a jumper for a 46-36 lead.
Manhattan girls 56, TMP 47
Manhattan’s girls outscored Thomas More Prep 9-2 down the stretch for a 56-47 victory in the Hays Shootout. Madison Mitte led Manhattan with 16 points. Manhattan plays Newton in Friday’s semifinals.
TMP’s Kayla Vitztum scored 13 points and Melissa Pfeifer had 12 and Katelyn Zimmerman 11.
Newton girls 50, Garden City 31
Newton’s girls rolled past Garden City 50-31 and will meet Manhattan High in Friday’s semifinals.
HAYS SHOOTOUT
GIRLS
Hays 51, Colby 41
Great Bend 42, Olathe North 36
Newton 50, Garden City 31
Manhattan 56, Thomas More Prep 47
Friday’s Semifinals
Newton vs. Manhattan, 3 p.m. HH
Hays vs. Great Bend, 6:30 p.m. HH
Friday’s Consolation
Garden City vs. Thomas More Prep, 3 p.m. HMS
Colby vs. Olathe North, 6:30 p.m. HMS
