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Mustangs overpower Panthers
11 jenna mauler drives best one.JPG
Great Bend Panther Jenna Mauler (11) scores a basket, but no foul was called against Salina Central defender Aubrie Kierscht (20). - photo by JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune


BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

 

The Salina Central Mustangs were bigger, stronger and more physical.

Salina Central’s girls overpowered Great Bend 71-42 in Friday’s non-league basketball game.

Hampton Williams paced Salina Central with 19 points and stylish Selah Merkle added 16 points as the Mustangs controlled play inside.

The shorter and skinnier Panthers had no answers for a physical Mustang team. They sealed the victory with a 23-point third quarter for a 55-33 lead.

The Mustangs (1-1) led 32-23 at halftime, fueled by a 33-19 rebounding advantage. The Mustangs scored nine second-chance points and converted several transition scores off 11 first-half turnovers.

“It was a difficult matchup size-wise,” said Great Bend coach Carrie Minton. “They’re physical and athletic.”

Halle Latham led the Panthers (1-4) with nine points and Sydney Unruh, Jenna Mauler and Candice Smith each added eight points.

The scrappy Panthers stayed within range, pulling within 24-19 when Jenna Mauler converted a field goal. The Mustangs responded with back-to-back 3-point plays by Merkle and Hampton Williams.

The Panthers forced the basketball into traffic and needed to make an extra pass.

“When we’re going against bigger girls, we need to take what they give us and not force things,” Minton said. “We need to utilize our speed and play smarter. We forced some things. We need to recognize what our options are. We’ll learn and continue to play hard.”

Kadyn Cobb opened the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers. The Mustangs outscored the Panthers 18-9 on 3-pointers.

The Panthers play at Hutchinson High Dec. 14.

SC 16 16 23 16 – 71

GB 10 13 10 9 – 42

SC (1-1)— Williams 8-15 2-3 19, Merkle 5-10 6-9 16, Nash 3-5 1-2 7, Sanderson 2-3 0-0 4, Opat 1-2 0-0 3, Cobb  3-9 0-0 8, Arcayan 0-2 0-0 0, Griffin 2-3 0-0 4, Kierscht 2-16 2-3 7, Moore 0-1 0-0 0, Matthews 0-1 0-0 0, 0-1 0-0, 1-1 0-0 3, Totals 27-69 11-17 71

GB (1-4)— Latham 3-7 3-8 9, Sydney Unruh 1-7 5-9 8, Smith 2-5 4-4 8, Mauler 2-10 3-4 8, Keller 0-0 1-2 1, Schroeder 0-5 0-0 0, Kaylee Unruh 1-4 0-1 2, Warren 1-2 1-2 4, Harbaugh 1-2 0-0, Totals 11-42 17-30 42

3-pointers—SC 6-21 (Maring 1-1, Kierscht 1-9, Williams 1-2, Opat 1-2, Cobb 2-4, Merkele 0-2, Nash 0-1); GB 3-10 (Warren 1-1, Schroeder 0-3, Mauler 1-4, K. Unruh 0-1, S. Unruh 1-1). Technical—Sanderson.