BY JIM MISUNAS
HUTCHINSON – Great Bend’s aggressive fullcourt defense paved the way for a hard-fought 41-31 non-league basketball victory over Hutchinson High’s girls Friday.
The Panthers (3-2) converted several of Hutchinson’s 21 turnovers into extra possessions and easy transition scores off 13 steals. The Salthawks shot 33 percent.
“Defensively, our pressure was good and everyone stepped it up,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “We play fast and create a lot of defensive pressure. That’s the way we have to play basketball to get wins. It was a great night.”
Hutchinson had no defensive answer to Carley Brack, who worked her way inside for 19 points and five free throws. The Panthers were successful attacking the basket and occasionally kicking out for an open shot. Carly Dreiling added 10 points. Dreiling and Brooklyn Burkhart worked well together for several scores.
“Our key is to push the basketball up-and-down the floor,” Minton said. “We knew we had to attack.”
The second-half featured an oddity with Brack and Dreiling scoring all 17 of Great Bend’s second-half points.
Hutchinson also had two players score points after halftime. Gabbie Posch scored 10 second-half points, and Jaydin Elmore’s 3-pointer was the Salthawks’ only other score after halftime.
Great Bend was headed for a blowout victory behind a 13-0 run for a 24-11 lead. But Kasey Hazell sparked a 7-0 run for a 24-18 halftime deficit.
Burkhart passed to Dreiling for the first basket of the second half that was matched on Elmore’s 3-pointer. Posch scored the Salthawks’ final 10 points. Burkhart, Camryn Dunekack and Shailey Clark added four points apiece.
The Panthers (3-2) ride into the new year Jan. 3 at Dodge City with back-to-back solid wins over Class 6A Junction City and 6A Hutchinson High.
"We're really happy with how we finished the last two games,” Minton said.
GB 14 10 11 6 – 41
HH 11 7 5 8 – 31
GB—Carley Brack 7-13 5-9 19; Carly Dreiling 3-6 3-6 10; Camryn Dunekack 1-4 1-2 4; Brooklyn Burkhart 2-6 0-0 4, Shailey Clark 2-3 0-0 44; Annie Mills 0-1 0-0 0; Ireland 0-3 0-0 0; Totals 15-36 9-17 41.
HHS—Posch 4-9 0-0 10, Tomac 1-5 0-0 2, Regier 2-3 0-0 4, Ackley 1-5 0-0 3, Hefley 0-1 1-2 1, Hazell 4-9 0-0 8, Elmore 1-3 0-0 3; Ontjes 0-1 0-0 0; Scales 0-3 0-0 0; Totals 13-39 1-4 31.
3-point goals—GB 2-10 (Dreiling 1-1, Dunekack 1-2, Mills 0-1, Ireland 0-2, Brack 0-4); HH 4-12 (Posch 2-5, Elmore 1-2, Ackley 1-4, Ontjes 0-1).
WESTERN ATHLETIC GIRLS
Liberal 0-0 5-0
Hays High 0-0 4-1
Great Bend 0-0 3-2
Garden 0-0 3-3
Dodge City 0-0 2-2
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Dodge City 46, Goddard Eisenhower 43
Great Bend 41, Hutchinson 31
Liberal 52, Perryton, Texas 28
