BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

EMPORIA — The first time Great Bend played Emporia's girls, Makenzie Premer and Emma Loomis played spectacular defense against Spartan sharpshooter Gracie Gilpin.

Gilpin gained her revenge in a big way with eight 3-pointers to spark the Spartans past underdog Great Bend 64-35 in Saturday's Glacier's Edge basketball championship. No. 7 state-ranked Emporia (10-3) captured its 14th Glacier's Edge title. Gilpin scored 28 points and converted five consecutive 3-pointers when the Panthers were unable to deny her the basketball despite good intentions.

The Spartans converted 12 of 30 3-pointers to outscore the Panthers 36-0 from long range. Gilpin made 2 of 16 shots when Emporia downed the Panthers 47-39 Dec. 14. This time, Gilpin made 8 of 13 shots from 3-point range with the Panthers a step behind defensively all game.

"She knocked a lot of them down tonight. We lost her a couple of times," said Great Bend coach Cindy Beck. "We wanted to get a hand in her face. Kenzie and Emma did a good job battling through a lot of screens."

Great Bend's Emilee Hall capped three consecutive double-figure games with a 16-point effort off 6 of 8 shooting. Sadie Spray scored six points, but lost momentum after drawing two first-quarter fouls.

"Emilee works really hard understanding the game," Beck said. "She battled hard and did a nice job with her help defense."

Emporia's pressure defense paid big dividends as the Panthers committed 27 turnovers which led to easy transition points and extra shots. Emporia attempted 49 field goals while the Panthers were 12 of 22 from the field.

"You've got to value possessions. We lost focus. We knew their pressure was coming," Beck said. "That trap is going to come. You have to release back and we didn't do that."

The Panthers (4-9) earned upset wins over 6A Hutchinson 56-53 and 6A Wichita Southeast 37-35 for its first-ever Glacier's Edge title game. The Panthers face daunting challenges against Western Athletic powerhouses Liberal and Dodge City down the road.

Great Bend has moved up to 13th place in the 5A West standings after starting the week in 15th place.

"We grew up playing two tough, close games. To come out 2-1,  it gives us confidence," Beck said. "That's a tough game to play against a top 10 team and it didn't work out. We've got to show up and go back to work Monday. We want to continue to build from here."

Great Bend 3 13 11 8  — 35

Emporia 14 14 23 13  — 64

GREAT BEND (4-9)—Hall 6-8 4-9 16, Spray 2-4 2-2 6, Warren 1-12-3 4, Kaiser 1-3 1-3 3, Premer 1-2 0-0 2, Emma Loomis 0-2 2-2 2, Reyes 1-1 0-0 2, Fletchall 0-0 0-1 0, Kara Feist 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 12-22 11-20 35.

EMPORIA (10-3)—Gilpin 8-16 4-5 28, Kirmer 4-9 1-1 11, Peak 2-2 1-2 5, Snyder 2-4 1-1 5, Dewitt 1-2 0-0 3, Stewart 1-3 0-0 3, Allie Baker 0-7 3-4 3, Shivley 1-4 1-2 3, Wiltz 0-0 1-2 1, Herkkens 0-1 0-1 0, Totals 20-49 12-18 64.

3-pointers—GB 0-3 (Premer 0-1, Kaiser 0-2); E 12-30 (Gilpin 8-13, Kirmer 2-6, Dewitt 1-1, Stewart 1-3, Shivley 0-2, A. Baker 0-5). 

EMPORIA TOURNAMENT

1ST—Emporia 64, Great Bend 35; 3RD—Wichita Life 48, Wichita Southeast 36; 5TH—Hutchinson 49, Goddard Eisenhower 38; 7TH—Shawnee Heights 45, Wichita South 28

FRIDAY—Emporia 49, Wichita Life 42; Great Bend 37, Wichita Southeast 35; Goddard Eisenhower 53, Wichita South 37; Hutchinson 45, Shawnee Heights 28

THURSDAY—Emporia 55, Wichita South 31; Wichita Life 44, Goddard Eisenhower 24; Wichita Southeast 44, Shawnee Heights 38; Great Bend 56, Hutchinson 53