WAMEGO — Splitting a week of action that included a match with the number two team in the state of Kansas, the Concordia girls basketball team defeated Marysville at home but fell to Wamego on the road, to move to 9-7 on the year.
Versus number two-ranked Wamego, the Panthers fell 57-38.
The Red Raiders came out firing, with an 11-1 opening as the Panther offense just couldn’t find a way to get the ball into the basket. Avery Kueker finally broke the seal with a layup, and the Panthers were able to match Wamego down the stretch 6-6, as Wamego led 21-9 after one quarter.
Offense would be hard to come by in the second quarter. After a quick 6-3 Wamego spurt, outside of a stray Red Raider basket, nearly three minutes went off the clock before a Charlize Cash three finally produced some offense, as Concordia closed on a 5-2 spurt capped by a Rylie Jessup three at the buzzer, making it a 33-20 game entering halftime.
The third quarter would see more offense, with both teams going punch-counter-punch, as Concordia couldn’t chip away at the lead but Wamego couldn’t put the Panthers away. A pair of late Wamego baskets made it a 50-27 game entering the fourth quarter.
Facing an uphill battle with time not on their side, the Panthers were able to outscore the Red Raiders 11-7 in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers eventually fell to the NCKL foe and number two team in 4A, 57-38.
Cash led in scoring with 10 points, eight rebounds, two steals and an assist.
VanMeter had eight points, seven rebounds and an assist.
Jaylin Roush had six points, six rebounds and a block.
Versus Marysville, the Panthers won 59-46.
The Panthers came out of the gate rolling, opening the game with a 9-0 run and keeping the Bulldogs off the board for the first four minutes of the quarter. A Marlee VanMeter three capped off a 10-4 run, to close the first quarter with the Panthers leading 19-6.
A 9-0 Bulldog run to open the second quarter put them right in the thick of it, making it a 19-15 game, before a VanMeter layup finally got the Panthers back on the board. Points were harder to come by, but Marysville was able to slowly chip away at the lead. A Rylie Jessup three to end the half made it a 26-20 game entering halftime.
A Jaylin Roush three, VanMeter layup and a pair of free throws pushed the Panthers’ lead to double digits, with a Graceyn Weaver layup pushing the lead to 15 as a part of a 9-0 run. Concordia was able to pace Marysville, with the third quarter being capped by five straight possessions ending in three points as Concordia led 49-39.
An early Jessup three in the fourth quarter would be the only points the game saw for nearly five minutes (7:18), as Marysville finally broke the seal and scored, but the Panthers were able to match the NCKL foe down the stretch and take their third straight win and complete the season sweep over Marysville.
VanMeter led in scoring with 26 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal.
Jessup had nine points, five rebounds, a steal and an assist.
Roush had nine points and eight rebounds.
Charlize Cash had nine points, 14 rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block.
