HOISINGTON — The Hoisington High School girls’ basketball team took advantage of a cold-shooting Ellinwood team to take a 30-17 lead by halftime on Friday night.
The Lady Eagles found success punching the ball inside to Kelsey Ward in the third quarter, but Hoisington salted the game away in the fourth quarter, making several free throws to win 51-37 in a semifinal game of the Hoisington Winter Jam.
“We were a little sluggish tonight,” Hoisington head coach Mandy Mason said. “We weren’t sharp. We were flat emotionally, mentally and physically. I thought Ellinwood had a really good game plan, and they stuck with it. They hit the boards really hard. I give them a lot of credit.
“I’m proud of our kids even though things weren’t going smoothly, they never quit and they finished the game strong.”
Mallory Flagor was 10-for-12 from the free-throw line, including 7 of 8 in the final eight minutes. Flagor finished with a game-high 20 points.
“I thought Mallory shot really well from the free-throw line,” Mason said. “Unofficially, she was 10-for-12, and she played with a lot of confidence. She’s been playing really well for us. That’s what we need our seniors to do is step up and lead.”
Down 31-18 in the third quarter, Ellinwood made a 10-3 run on the shoulders of Ward, who scored six points in the third quarter and finished with a team-leading 16.
“She hadn’t played a lot of varsity prior to this,” Ellinwood head coach Ryan Mountain said of Ward, “but she was showing me some good things in practice. She was showing me some good things on the JV side and showed a great attitude. I don’t see the floor as well as she does. I love the game of basketball. I love to play it, but there’s a lot of boys in this gym even now that don’t see the floor like she does.
“She’s a quarterback sitting back in the pocket, looking for the pass. She’s got soft hands, a great touch and a great lead.”

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
 
At Hoisington
 
GIRLS
 
Friday
 
Hoisington 51, Ellinwood 37
ELLINWOOD (3-8)
     Sophie Hayes 2 1-2 5, Darri Beckwith 1 0-2 3, Brooke Panning 1 2-4 4, Kelsey Ward 8 0-4 16, Kenzie Corbet 1 1-2 3, Lindsay Zink 1 4-8 6. Totals 14 8-22 37.
HOISINGTON (9-1)
     BreAnna Burns 2 1-2 5, Jordin Greer 4 4-7 12, Savannah Rose 1 3-6 5, Brandy Wondra 2 2-2 6, Blakelee Cooper 1 1-2 3, Mallory Flagor 5 10-12 20. Totals 15 21-31 51.
Ellinwood         6  11  11   9  —  37
Hoisington      12  18   6  15  —  51
     Three-point goals — Ellinwood 1 (Beckwith); Hoisington (none).