MACKSVILLE — The Macksville High School girls’ basketball team refused to go into the holiday break with a winless record.
On Thursday night, the Lady Mustangs (1-5) remedied the situation with a 51-27 victory over Cunningham.
“It’s great to see the girls excited and happy after the win,” Macksville head coach Nathaniel Norman said. “You could tell they were clicking and working collectively, instead of individually.”
Macksville jumped ahead 17-8 after one quarter, getting eight points from Karissa Langlois, who finished with a game-high 16 points. She made 6 of 7 free throws.
“She’s been up there,” Norman said of Langlois. “She’s usually one we can count on to score. She jumped on a lot of passes and got some transition layups.”
The Lady Mustangs had 13 steals in the game, leading to several baskets on the other end.
“A lot of our offense came off turnovers,” Norman said. “We had a lot of transition layups, and that really got our confidence up on offense.”
Tara Bunker nearly had a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Clara Cross finished with 11 points for Macksville, which returns from the break on the road against Central Plains on Friday, Jan. 4.

                                                            — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

GIRLS

At Macksville

Thursday

Macksville 51, Cunningham 27
CUNNINGHAM
    A. Kerschen 5 4-8 15, A. Vierthaler 1 0-2 2, A. Panek 0 0-0 0, M. Stapleton 0 0-0 0, K. Ricke 3 0-2 6, C. Hansen 1 2-4 4, T. Strickland 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 6-16 27.
MACKSVILLE (1-5)
     Melissa Espino 2 0-2 4, Kristina Murphy 2 0-3 4, Tara Bunker 4 5-6 13, Karissa Langlois 4 6-9 16, Kiley Freeman 0 1-2 1, Selena Galan 1 0-2 2, Clara Cross 5 1-1 11, Mindy Wood 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 13-25 51.
Cunningham     8    6      8     5   —  27
Macksville      17    8    10    16  —  51
    Three-point goals — Macksville 2 (Langlois 2); Cunningham 1 (A. Kerschen). Total fouls — Macksville 18, Cunningham 17. Fouled out — Murphy.