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Massanet leads Manhattan High past Great Bend
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Great Bends Morgan Harwood finds herself surrounded by Manhattan defenders during Tuesday nights game in Manhattan. - photo by Sarah Midgorden Manhattan Mercury

MANHATTAN — Mari Jo Massanet couldn’t be contained.
Massanet, a 5-foot-11 senior forward, poured in 26 points on Tuesday night, leading Manhattan High School’s girls’ basketball team to a 56-20 drubbing of visiting Great Bend.
A long scoring drought did in the Lady Panthers, who dropped to 0-5 on the season — all road losses.
Manhattan (2-0), ranked No. 7 in Class 6A in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll, led 14-7 after one period. The Indians proceeded to shut out Great Bend during the second quarter before Lady Panthers senior guard Olivia Basye converted two free throws with six seconds left in the half to make it 22-9 at halftime.
Although Manhattan missed 15 of its first 19 shots, the Tribe was still able to take control of the game early.
Massanet scored 13 first-half points to lead the Indians. She scored the first five points of the game and capped the first quarter with their final four points.
Massanet also scored 13 points in the second half as her point total exceeded Great Bend’s by herself.
Seniors Brandi Schneider and Kelsey Crosby led the Lady Panthers with five points apiece.
The Lady Panthers will be idle for the holidays until Tuesday, Jan. 3, when they entertain McPherson in their home opener.

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

At Manhattan
Manhattan High School

GIRLS

Tuesday

Manhattan 56, Great Bend 20
MANHATTAN (2-0)
     Elayna Spilker 2 0-0 4, Jenna Cruisinberry 0 0-0 0, Onyeka Ehie 2 1-5 5, Emilie Liebe 3 0-0 7, Katie Proctor 1 2-2 4, Par McNair 1 0-0 2, Mari Jo Massanet 10 6-10 26, Darby Price 3 0-2 6, Stephanie Shanower 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 9-20 56
GREAT BEND (0-5)
     Brandi Schneider 2 0-0 5, Emily Cruse 0 0-0 0, Olivia Basye 0 2-3 2, Katelyn Henning 0 0-0 0, Hannah Hildebrand 0 0-0 0, Kelsie Doll 0 0-0 0, Liz Kutina 0 0-4 0, Regan Unruh 1 0-0 2, Kaylie Doll 0 0-0 0, McKenna Mauler 1 0-0 2, Tarynn Stueder 0 2-4 2, Morgan Harwood 1 0-0 2, Kelsey Crosby 1 3-4 5. Totals 6 7-15 20.
Great Bend                        7    2    8    3   —  20
Manhattan                        12  10  16  18  —  56
    Three-point goals — Great Bend 1 (Schneider); Manhattan 1 (Liebe).