SENECA — Fighting for an opportunity to host a pair of games at home for the postseason, the Concordia girls basketball team split a pair of games to move to 11-9 on the year.
Versus Nemaha Central, the Panthers lost 46-35.
Concordia was able to take the lead 3-2 on a Marlee VanMeter three-ball, but a fight for the lead would go on to open the game. Both offenses would go back and forth, but two straight Thunder baskets would give them a 16-13 lead over the Panthers after one quarter.
Neither team could create ground in the second quarter, as both teams fought to take the lead. The Thunder would push the lead to two possessions, and the Panthers knocked it back down to one. A pair of Charlize Cash free throws would make it a 26-24 game, as the Panthers trailed entering halftime.
Three points for Jaylin Roush would give the Panthers the lead early in the third quarter, 27-26, and both teams would exchange baskets as neither team could pull away. The Panthers would take a five-point lead on a Roush free throw, but a 6-0 Thunder spurt to close the quarter gave them a 34-33 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Concordia would get shut down in the fourth quarter, being held off the board completely. Concordia would keep the game close thanks to some strong defense, but the Thunder were able to make some baskets late to put the Panthers away 46-35.
Roush and Cash led in scoring with 11 points and combined for 14 rebounds, with Cash having three assists and five steals with a block.
VanMeter had seven points, five rebounds and two steals.
Versus Abilene, the Panthers won 60-38.
After a bit of a slow start offensively, it would be Abilene with the advantage halfway through the opening quarter, leading 9-5. Concordia was able to slightly outscore the Cowgirls 5-4 to close the quarter, capped by a Morgan Lister deep two, but trailed 13-10.
The second quarter was a defensive slugfest, with neither team able to get momentum. Abilene was able to take a 19-13 lead, but the Panthers responded with a 10-4 run, ending with a Charlize Cash reverse layup to tie the game at 23 to end the half.
A quick 10-0 run to open the third quarter for the Panthers put them up 33-23, and they took full momentum. Concordia would ride the momentum and go on an 11-0 run after an Abilene layup, to lead 44-25 entering the fourth quarter.
Abilene would finally get some offense going in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers would keep pace in the scoring column, eliminating any chance of a comeback, as Concordia would cap off senior day with a 60-38 victory.
Jaylin Roush led in scoring with 23 points, two rebounds and two steals.
Charlize Cash had eight points, six rebounds, 10 assists and five steals.
Graceyn Weaver had eight points, five rebounds and a steal.
