The odds of Great Bend’s girls defending their Western Athletic Conference title was fading fast.
Underdog Liberal led the Panthers 37-32 after Samantha Terrazas made two free throws with 80 seconds left in regulation.
But Carley Brack and Lauren Welsch rescued the Panthers with back-to-back 3-pointers to force overtime at 38-38. Welsch tied the game with 12 seconds left in regulation after Liberal’s Ali Lucero made a free throw with 30 seconds left.
Great Bend outscored Liberal 14-9 in overtime to escape with a 52-47 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory.  
The Panthers (7-7, 3-1 WAC) converted 11 free throws in overtime and made 23 of 38 foul shots overall. Welsch paced the Panthers with 16 points and Regan Unruh added nine points.
Welsch, Unruh, Dreiling and Mauler converted free throws in overtime.
Liberal freshman sensation Ali Lucero scored 22 points and drilled a key fourth-quarter 3-pointer. Jada Mickens’ basket handed the Redskins a 35-32 lead.
Liberal (3-11, 1-3 WAC) led 19-11 at halftime as the Panthers scored two first-half field goals. The Panthers’ tandem of Welsch and Unruh got rolling in a 16-point third period. Kate Warren and Carly Boyd each scored two crucial points for a 27-24 lead after three quarters.

GREAT BEND 52, LIBERAL 47
Liberal 7 12 5 14 9 – 47
Great Bend 4 7 16 11 14 – 52
LIBERAL—Lucero 22; Mickens 8; Limon 5; Shelton 4; Hernandez 2; Terrazas 2; Mariela Nunez 3; Paola Nunez 1.
GREAT BEND—Welsch 16; Unruh 9; Brack 7; Dreiling 6; Mauler 4; Warren 4; Dunekack 3; Boyd 2, Beck 1.
WAC GIRLS
Dodge City  4-0  8-6
Great Bend  3-1  7-7
Garden City 2-2  9-7
Liberal         1-3 3-11
Hays High    0-4  3-13
Friday’s scores
Great Bend 52, Liberal 47, OT
McPherson 58, Dodge City 50
Garden City 65, Guymon, Okla. 45