Sadie Spray sparks Panthers’ victory
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Sadie Spray is Great Bend’s Energizer Bunny.
She delivered a vintage all-around performance with 21 points, three blocks in the third quarter and several assists and steals in a hard-fought 45-34 non-league basketball victory over the vastly improved Larned Indians.
Spray said she takes pride in contributing in every phase of the game.
“I love the game of basketball so much, I want to challenge myself every way I can,” she said. “If you’re not scoring, you want to help your team. Playing defense is my favorite part.”
Does Spray get more excited about a block or steal?
“Definitely a steal,” she said. “We love when we pressure teams and get some easy transition points. I love the way we’re playing basketball.”
Makenzie Premer added eight points and Emilee Hall scored six points for Great Bend (4-1), which plays Emporia (4-0) at home Friday.
“Larned played well,” said Great Bend assistant coach Bill Maddy. “They’re a well-coached team. They made us work for it. The length of our guards gave them fits. It’s hard to throw over them. We got some easy baskets.”
Larned (1-4) showed flashes of brilliance despite 25 turnovers. The Indians have lost two close games and have improved from one to three wins the past three seasons.
The Indians knocked down five 3-pointers with Jaidyn Pinkston scoring nine points and Makenzie Reinert eight points. Kiana Meyer converted a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sky hook, then dropped home a beautiful teardrop jumper.
“The girls are working to win and they’re playing their hearts out,” said Larned coach Jerrod Smith. “We need to fix the little things that are hurting us right now.”
Larned coach Smith was pleased with the overall effort except the turnovers.
“We’ve got to continue to come meet the basketball and keep moving without the basketball,” Smith said.
Larned’s girls prefer to take a patient approach. Great Bend’s girls like a fast-paced basketball game.
The Indians’ steady pace worked wonders for a quarter as they battled to an 8-8 tie.
But the Panthers’ aggressive full-court pressure eventually took its toll. Great Bend forced 25 Larned turnovers.
Spray scored seven second-quarter points and passed to Emilee Hall and Makenzie Premer for scores in a 15-point quarter for a 23-14 halftime lead. Larned’s Jaidyn Pinkston played brilliantly with a 9-point first half.
Larned 8 6 6 14 – 34
Great Bend 8 15 10 12 – 45
LARNED (1-4)—Pinkston 3-6 2-2 9, Holt 1-4 0-0 3, Herrera 1-3 0-2 2, Meyer 1-5 1-1 3, Makenzie Reinert 2-7 0-0 3, Collins 0-4 0-4 0, Lemuz 1-5 0-0 0, Hagerman 2-2 0-0 5, Totals 13-37 3-9 34
GREAT BEND (4-1)—Spray 8-18 2-6 21, Ellegood 0-0 2-2 2, Thexton 1-3 0-2 2, Reimer 1-4 0-0 2, Kara Feist 2-6 0-0 4, Hall 3-15 0-2 6, Premer 3-7 2-3 8, Totals 18-53 7-18 45
3-pointers—L 5-12 (Makenzie Reinert 2-5, Holt 1-1, Hagerman 1-1, Pinkston 1-2, Herrera 0-1, Meyer 0-2); GB 2-11 (Spray 2-6, Premer 0-1, Feist 0-3, Reimer 0-1)
