LARNED — The Larned Lady Indians parlayed 24 Pratt turnovers into numerous easy baskets as they upset the Pratt Greenbacks Friday, 47-42, in a Central Kansas League matchup to open the 2016-17 season.
The game was a seesaw affair in the first half with the Greenbacks grabbing a 20-19 halftime advantage but Larned raced out of the halftime break and outscored Pratt 15-6 in the third quarter to take a 34-26 lead into the final stanza.
Behind a full-court press in the fourth quarter, Pratt pulled to within 5 points on two occasions but after shooting free throws poorly for most of the game, the Indians began converting and held off the Greenbacks 47-42.
“I was pleased with our defensive effort tonight,” said first-year Larned coach Ashley Crosby. We’ve got a scrappy bunch and they like to play defense. It was a good opening win for us.”
The Indians continually attacked the basket and created a lot of fouls and free throw opportunities and converted 14 of 26 attempts.
Larned was led in scoring by Kelsey Parr with 14 while Haley Skelton chipped in with 11 as the Lady Indians shot 40 percent from the field.
Pratt shot 37 percent from the field and lost the rebound battle to Larned 32 to 21. The Greenbacks were led in scoring by Allisan McGowan and Kierson Maydew with 11 points apiece.
Larned will meet Hoisington Monday evening at 5 p.m. in the opening round of the Keady Classic Tournament in Larned.

PRATT BOYS 65, LARNED 40
The Pratt Greenbacks showed no ill effects of limited practice time by many of their State Championship football players Friday as they ran away from the Larned Indians 65-40.
Looking every bit as a team that many consider will also contend for a State Basketball Championship, the Greenbacks pulled away from a 16-11 first-quarter advantage to outscore Larned 19-7 in the second quarter and seize a commanding 35-18 halftime advantage.
First-year Larned coach Jarrod Smith said, “We knew they were going to be big and talented and they certainly were all of that. Samson Kohman is a big-time talent and will make a fine college player.”
With a height advantage at every position, Pratt outrebounded Larned 46 to 26 and outshot the Indians 44 to 27 percent.
All-State candidate Samson Kohman of Pratt returned, after missing all of last year with an injury, to lead the Greenbacks in scoring with 25 points. Noah Myers added 18. Larned was led in scoring by Jonathan Herter and Thomas Harmon, both with 11 points.
The fast-paced Central Kansas League game was well played as Pratt had four turnovers and Larned five. Larned will open tournament play in their own Keady Classic on Monday evening at 6:30 in a first-round game against Hoisington .

LARNED 47, PRATT 42
Larned 6 13 15 13 — 47
Pratt 7 13 6 16 — 42
LARNED—Parr 5 3-4 14; Edgin 1 0-0 2; Skelton 4 3-6 11; Muldrow 0 1-2 1; Smith 2 1-6 5; Fischer 1 0-0 2; Butler 0 1-2 1; Perez 1 3-5 5; Anderson 1 2-2 4; Ritchie 1 0-0 2; Totals 16 14-27 47.
PRATT—Helfrich 1 1-2 3; Coates 1 3-6 5; McGowan 4 0-0 11; Staats 1 2-4 4; Hoover 1 0-0 2; Rasmussen 3 0-0 6; Maydew 4 3-5 11; Totals 14 9-1742.

PRATT 65, LARNED 40
Larned 11 7 10 12 — 40
Pratt 16 19 26 4 — 65
LARNED—Herter 3 5-6 11; Schartz 1 0-4 3; Bright 2 0-1 5; Harmon 4 2-3 11; Castro 0 2-2 2; Massey 1 0-1 2; Barger 1 1-3 4; Whittington 1 0-0 2; Totals 13 10-20 40.
PRATT—Kohman 11 2-2 25; Myers 8 0-0 18; Roadhouse 3 0-0 8; Stephens 2 2-3 6; Studer 0 2-2 2; Stegman 3 0-0 6; Totals 27 6-7 65.