By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS – Great Bend’s hard-fought 54-45 basketball victory over Olathe North Friday was a testament to the Panthers’ team concept over the Eagles’ one-on-one style.
The Panthers’ efficient passing game turned a 12-point deficit into a 9-point victory at the Gerald Mitchell Hays City Shootout. The Panthers competed in the third-place game against Western Athletic Conference rival Hays High, a 62-54 loser to Hays-Thomas More Prep.
Keely Ireland and Shailey Clark and Carley Brack delivered assists in the Panthers’ game-clinching fourth-quarter.
“We’re looking for layups, but we want to attack on offense,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “It was nice to see the girls pass the basketball to the open shooter.”
Carley Brack played superbly in back-to-back outings with a 25-point effort and several highlight-reel assists from the Panthers’ open-court offense. Carly Dreiling scored 15 points. The Panthers outscored the Eagles 12-0 on 3-pointers and made 18 free throws.
“Once we got our offense going, the weight was off our shoulders,” said Minton. “We wanted to work the ball inside and get to the free throw line.”
Brack scored 16 first-half points and led a 12-0 run for a 24-24 halftime tie. Camryn Dunekack’s pass led to a score by Brooklyn Burkhart and Dreiling hit a 3-pointer as the Panthers finished off a stunning 21-2 run for a 42-33 lead.
The Panthers’ key was working hard to get Olathe North post players Leyanna McGinnis and Brooklyn Anderson into foul trouble. The 5-foot-11 powerful McGinnis scored seven points with six rebounds in the first quarter to spark eight second-chance points for a 24-12 lead. McGinnis drew three first-half fouls and 30 seconds into the second half, she had four fouls.
“McGinnis is a game-changer who changes how you play the game,” Minton said. “When she gets the ball inside, she’s difficult to stop from scoring. We had success taking the ball inside and getting her in foul trouble.”
The Eagles roared to a 12-point lead (24-12) behind dominating offensive rebounding that led to eight second-chance points. But the pesky Panthers regrouped with smarter rebounding and aggressive drives to the basket. The Eagles had outscored the Panthers 6-0 in the first quarter.
The Eagles’ one-on-one style pushed the ball inside to McGinnis or featured one-on-one drives by Lexy Watts and Jaida Kenada. Few baskets came off good passing. McGinnis scored nine fourth-quarter points to slice the lead to 49-43, but the Panthers sealed the victory with free throws.
• TMP 62, HAYS HIGH 54 — Thomas More Prep outscored Hays High 21-8 at the free throw line to qualify for the girls championship game. The Monarchs attempted 42 free throws. Kayla Vitztrum scored 24 points and Madyson Koerner added 16 points.
Savannah Schneider scored 18 points for Hays High.
• MANHATTAN 67, GARDEN CITY 34 — All-Tournament Chrissy Carr scored 21 points to spark Manhattan past Garden City into the girls championship game. The Indians led 34-17 at halftime. Josie Calzonetti led th4e Buffaloes with seven points.
PANTHERS 54, EAGLES 45
SECOND ROUND
GB 7 17 16 14 — 54
ON 16 8 8 13 — 45
ON—Jaida Kenana 3-9 3-6 9; Sireen Kenana 0-1 0-0 0; Lexy Watts 4-9 7-11 15; Hope Watts 0-2 0-0 0; Gallagher 0-2 0-0 0; Anderson 2-4 1-2 5; McGinnis 4-9 8-11 16; Burks 0-0 0-2 0; Stirling 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 13-37 19-30 45.
GB—Carley Brack 7-13 10-13 25; Dreiling 3-10 7-10 15; Ireland 1-2 0-0 3; Clark 1-2 0-0 2; Dunekack 1-7 0-2 2; Unruh 0-1 0-0 0; Mills 1-2 0-0 2; Burkhart 2-4 1-2 5; Totals 16-42 18-27 54.
3-point goals—GB 4-10 (Dreiling 2-5, Brack 1-3, Ireland 1-2, Mills 0-1, Dunekack 0-1). ON 0-7 (J. Kenana 0-2, S. Kenana 0-1, L. Watts 0-2, H. Watts 0-2). GB (Brack 1-3, Dreiling 1-2, Dunekack 0-1). TO—ON 25, GB 22.
MANHATTAN 67, GARDEN CITY 34
SEMIFINAL
GC 11 6 9 8 — 34
MHS 12 21 19 15 — 67
GC—Josie Calzonetti 2 3-5 7; Alyssa Long 2 0-0 6; Abbie Dart 2 1-2 5; Kaitlyn Chappel 1 2-4 4; Kyra Bellows 2 2-5 6; Lexi Hogan 1 0-0 2; Beth Guymon 1 0-0 2; Aerianna Stimemetz 1 0-0 2; Totals 11 10-18 34.
MHS—Chrissy Carr 7 1-2 21; Kia Wilson 4 4-4 12; Gigi McAtee 4 0-0 8; Taylor Johnson 3 0-0 7; Haleigh Harper 1 4-6 6; Garrin Williams 2 1-4 5; Megan Worthington 1 1-2 3; Aubrey Downie 0 1-2 1; Kennedy Wilson 1 0-0 2; Josie Hilgers 1 0-0 2; Totals 24 12-20 67.
TMP 62, HAYS HIGH 54
SEMIFINAL
TMP 11 17 12 22 — 62
HH 13 9 18 14 — 54
TMP—Kayla Vitztum 10 4-6 24; Madyson Koerner 3 7-8 16; Deonna Wellbrock 5 3-4 13; Megan Koenigsman 0 5-8 5; Katelynn Zimmerman 1 2-6 4; Totals 19 21-42 62.
HH—Savannah Schneider 6 6-11 18; Kallie Leiker 4 1-2 11; Talyn Kleweno 3 0-0 8; Mattie Hutchison 2 0-0 6; Jaycee Dale 2 0-0 4; Tasiah Nunnery 1 0-0 2; Maddie Keller 2 0-0 4; Brooke Dennins 0 1-2 1; Totals 20 8-15 54.
HAYS CITY SHOOTOUT, GIRLS
SATURDAY’S GAMES
4th Place—Olathe North 56, Garden City 46
3rd Place—Hays High 50, Great Bend 35
Championship—Manhattan 68, TMP 55
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Great Bend 54, Olathe North 45
Hays-TMP 62, Hays High 54
Manhattan 67, Garden City 34
THURSDAY’S GAMES
Manhattan 62, Great Bend 38
Hays High 52, Garden City 34
Hays-Thomas More Prep 56, Olathe North 43
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Abbie Dart, Garden City; Carley Brack, Great Bend; Carly Dreiling, Great Bend; Talyn Kleweno, Hays High; Savannah Schneider, Hays High; Gigi McAtee, Manhattan; Kia Wilson, Manhattan; Christianna Carr, Manhattan; Leyanna McGinnis, Olathe North; Megan Koenigsman, TMP; Madyson Koerner, TMP; and Kayla Vitztum, TMP.
Most Inspirational Player—Talyn Kleweno, Hays High.
