TOPEKA — It was a matchup looming ahead of the Great Bend High School girls’ basketball team from the start of the Lady Scot Shootout.
The Lady Panthers were two wins away from the possible chance to challenge Class 6A’s No. 1-ranked Wichita South.
They got their two wins, including a 67-40 drumming of host Highland Park in a semifinal game.
Great Bend, which is ranked No. 8 in 5A, paced the Lady Titans in the first quarter, but South took off in the second quarter and managed a 67-48 win over the Lady Panthers.
“We knew going in that size-wise, it would be a tough matchup,” GBHS head coach Carrie Minton said. “They played great defense, and we just didn’t capitalize on some chances under the basket, and they went on a run.
“The girls played hard for 32 minutes. They never gave up. We caused some turnovers because we applied some pressure that I don’t think they were used to. We were able to stick with them in the first quarter, and we never felt like we felt like we were at a disadvantage because of who we were playing.”
Tied at 17 after the first eight minutes, the Lady Titans took off in the second quarter, scoring 22 points for a 39-25 lead at intermission of the championship game.
Early on, it was Morgan Harwood that helped Great Bend stick with South, scoring all seven of her points in the first quarter.
Regan Unruh, who led the Lady Panthers in scoring, turned things on in the second half, recording all 14 points in the last 16 minutes.
“Regan Unruh led us in scoring,” Minton said. “She recognized that she was able to get tot he basket off the dribble, and she did a great job attacking the basket and getting some of South’s girls in foul trouble.”

Lady Panthers
oust Highland Park
TOPEKA — It was a two-point ball game after one quarter.
By halftime, Great Bend opened things with a 21-8 second quarter for a 37-21 intermission advantage.
The Lady Panthers opened things up in the second half for a 67-40 win over the Lady Scot Shootout hosts in a semifinal game.
Kylee Spray scorched the Lady Scots for 18 points. She hit four 3-pointers in the game, and went 6 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Lauren Welsch added 15 points, including a pair of 3s, for Great Bend.
“Kylee was scoring well in that second game,” Minton said. “We had a lot of individuals throughout the tournament who stepped up for us.”
Great Bend, which is 10-2 this season, hosts Hoisington on Tuesday evening.

                                                  — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
Lady Scot Shootout

GIRLS

Saturday

At Topeka

Championship game

Wichita South 67, Great Bend 48
GREAT BEND (10-2)
     Lauren Welsch 1 2-2 4, Hannah Hildebrand 1 0-0 3, Kylee Spray 2 0-0 6, Regan Unruh 4 4-5 14, Kaylie Doll 2 2-4 6, McKenna Mauler 1 2-5 4, Tarynn Stueder 1 0-0 2, Morgan Harwood 3 1-1 7, Madison Unruh 0 2-2 2. Totals 14 13-19 48.
WICHITA SOUTH
     Elliott 8 5-9 21, Franklin 0 4-4 4, Mattingly 1 2-4 4, Callins 1 2-4 4, Rogers 8 3-4 19, Dodson 3 0-0 6, Northcutt 3 3-7 9. Totals 24 19-32 67.
Great Bend        17     8     16     7   —  48
Wichita South    17    22    15    13  —  67
     Three-point goals — Great Bend 5 (Spray 2, Unruh 2, Hildebrand); Wichita South (none).

Friday

Semifinal

Great Bend 67, Highland Park 40
GREAT BEND (10-1)
     Lauren Welsch 4 3-4 15, Hannah Hildebrand 1 1-5 3, Kelsie Doll 1 4-4 6, Kylee Spray 4 6-8 18, Regan Unruh 0 2-2 2, Kaylie Doll 0 2-2 2, McKenna Mauler 1 1-2 4, Tarynn Stueder 2 0-2 4, Hannah Mauler 1 0-0 3, Morgan Harwood 2 2-3 6, Madison Unruh 2 0-3 4. Totals 19 21-25 67.
HIGHLAND PARK
     Kyles 1 1-2 4, Ray 2 1-2 5, Smith 0 1-2 1, Gilliam 2 1-4 6, Pead 1 7-12 9, Giardina 4 2-3 11, White 1 0-3 2, Jones 1 0-2 2. Totals 12 12-20 40.
Great Bend    16    21    15    15  —  67
Highland        13     8      5     14  —  40
     Three-point goals — Great Bend 8 (Spray 4, Welsch 2, M. Mauler, H. Mauler); Highland 3 (Kyles, Gilliam, Giardina).