TOPEKA – The No. 8-state ranked Washburn Rural’s girls achieved its final goal – triggering a running clock with a 30-point lead – to bury the Great Bend Panthers 71-41 for third place in Saturday’s Capital Classic Basketball Classic.
Carly Bachelor led Rural (9-3) with 26 points. The Panthers (8-4) had no defensive answer for Rural’s perimeter shooting which converted 11 3-pointers. Rural’s Kendall Michalski converted five 3-pointers a day after she made four from long range.
All-Tournament pick Carley Brack led Great Bend with 15 points to cap off three solid tournament games. Carly Dreiling added 13 points to continue her solid play. Great Bend made 12 of 12 free throws.
The Panthers were hurt by 21 turnovers, which were converted into easy transition points.
Rural finished the half with 3-pointers by Michalski, Bachelor and Lakhota Conklin to open a 38-22 halftime lead. Rural made three more 3-pointers in the final quarter and outscored the Panthers 33-21 from long range.
The Panthers will be heavy underdogs on the road Tuesday against No 9-state-ranked 6A Derby, which features Division 1 recruit Kennedy Brown, a 6-5 center who averages 16 points and 12 rebound.
GB 6 16 18 7 — 41
WR 16 22 16 17 — 71
GREAT BEND—Ireland 0-4 0-0 0, Dunekack 2-5 4-4 9, Burkhart 1-2 0-0 2, Brack 4-12 4-4 15, Dreiling 3-6 4-4 13, Clark 1-2 0-0 2, Mills 0-2 0-0 0,Neeland 0-1 0-0 0, Warren 0-0 0-0 0, Mauler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-35 12-12 41.
WR— Sigmund 3-4 1-2 7, Houser 2-5 0-0 4, Bachelor 10-17 4-5 26, Michalski 5-6 0-0 15, Woolington 3-5 2-2 10, Lutz 1-3 0-0 2,Bagshaw 0-1 1-2 1, Hamilton 1-2 0-0 3, Conklin 1-1 0-0 3, Ebert 0-2 0-0 0, Brown 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-47 8-11 71
TOPEKA, CAPITAL CITY CLASSIC
SATURDAY
1st—Leavenworth 47, Aquinas 41
3rd—Washburn Rural 71, Great Bend 41
5th—KC Sumner 42, SM East 36
7th—Shawnee Heights 56, Topeka West 33
FRIDAY
St. Thomas Aquinas 61, Washburn Rural 42
Leavenworth 59, Great Bend 40
SM East 49, Topeka West 37
KC Sumner 72, Shawnee Heights 56
THURSDAY
St. Thomas Aquinas 54, SM East 36
Washburn Rural 56, Topeka West 33
Leavenworth 53, Shawnee Heights 37
Great Bend 69, KC Sumner 64
