Picking up a pair of home wins off the heels of their trip to Colby, the Concordia girls basketball team defeated Clay Center and Valley Heights for its fourth win in six games.
Versus Clay Center, the Panthers won 46-42.
The Panthers held the momentum early, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before a Tiger mid-range shot put them on the board with 3:38 remaining in the opening quarter. An 8-3 Tiger spurt would cut the lead down to two, but a Charlize Cash three would keep the Panthers up 13-8 to end the first quarter.
A Cash and-one, free throw and jumper, plus a Jaylin Roush layup put the Panthers up 21-10 to start the second quarter. After a Roush three was able to break a Tiger run and put the Panthers up seven, then two free throws put Concordia up 26-17 to end the first half.
Clay Center was finding its outside shot to start the third quarter, keeping the game close as the Panthers tried to pull away. Concordia’s offense was able to match and pace the Tigers, with a Graceyn Weaver layup putting the Panthers up nine, 37-28, with two minutes to go. A late Cash layup was negated by a Tiger floater, as the Panthers led 39-30 entering the fourth quarter.
After a Marlee VanMeter jumper pushed the lead up to 11, the Tigers went on a 7-2 run that made it a 43-40 game with 90 seconds to go, with a Roush layup breaking the run and putting the Panthers up 45-40. VanMeter iced the game with a free throw to put the Panthers up six, and after a late Tiger basket the Panthers won 46-42.
Cash had 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Roush had 14 points, nine rebounds and two steals.
Jessup had three points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Versus Valley Heights, the Panthers won 56-49.
After the Mustangs went up 2-0, the Panthers went on a 9-0 run to take a 9-2 lead. After some back and forth, the Panthers held a 16-6 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter. A 5-2 spurt for the Mustangs made it an 18-11 Panther lead after one quarter.
Nearly three minutes into the second quarter, each team was able to score only one point, but a Jaylin Roush layup made it 21-12. Valley Heights would retaliate with a 10-2 run, to make it a 23-22 game. A 5-3 Panther spurt would give Concordia a 28-25 lead entering halftime.
The Panthers came out of the locker room on fire, with a 9-0 run in the first two minutes of the third quarter to take a 12-point lead. Concordia’s physical defense would continue to hinder the Mustangs’ offense, especially from outside the paint. Two late Mustang free throws would cut the Panther lead to nine, as Concordia led 43-34 entering the fourth quarter.
The fourth quarter would be gritty for both teams, with Valley Heights unable to chip away at the lead but the Panthers unable to officially put the game away early. A Charlize Cash layup with 3:43 left in the game put the Panthers up 11, 50-39, and officially put the pressure on the Mustangs. A Mustang three made it a 51-45 game with under two minutes to go, with a pair of free throws making it a 51-47 game with a minute to go. With Valley Heights forced to foul, Rylie Jessup would make a free throw to put the Panthers up 52-47. Morgan Lister made it a 54-49 game, and Cash iced the game with two more free throws for the 54-49 victory.
Cash led in scoring with 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks.
Jaylin Roush had 16 points, seven rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Graceyn Weaver, Marlee VanMeter and Jessup all scored six points and combined for 12 rebounds.
