Lady Indians Earn 2nd in Sagebrush Invitational
The Lady Indians placed second in the Sagebrush Shootout Basketball Tournament on Saturday, December 9. The Lady Indians were defeated by a good Golden Plains team in the championship game 51-29. The Lady Indians suffered from numerous turnovers resulting in many open possessions throughout the contest. Defending Golden Plains' fine junior guard, Kaycee Miller, also proved difficult. Miller scored 16 points and also accounted for many assists as well as providing good defensive intensity and ball-control throughout the evening.
Hanna Bracelin won the girls free-throw and three-point shooting contests at the tournament. Hanna was also selected to the five-player All-Tournament Team selected at the conclusion of the tournament. Congratulations, Hanna!
St. Francis never led in the contest, and both teams found it difficult to score in the early minutes. Golden Plains earned the first basket of the contest, a jumpshot by Kaycee Miller in the lane. After a St. Francis free-throw, Miller added 2 free-throws of her own to lead 1-4. Hanna Bracelin's assist lead to a left-wing score by Lauren Johnson, but Noel Ritter (5' 8" Jr.) answered with an offensive rebound basket. With 2:55 remaining in the first period, Bracelin drained a trey (assist Taighe Weeter) tying the game at 6-all. Golden Plains' (GP) freshman Ashley Stoll (5' 8") score from the post was answered by a Weeter basket (assist Lindsey Johnson). It was the last time the game would be tied. A driving score by Miller and a fast-break bucket earned Golden Plains an 8-12 advantage after one quarter of play.
Baskets by Ashley Stoll (post) and Noel Ritter (press offense; plus one) moved the score to 8-17 and triggered a St. Francis time-out at 5:47 of the second period. After the time-out, Taighe Weeter drained a left-wing trey for St. Francis. The trey was answered by a trey by Brook Stoll (5' 5" freshman) at the opposite end of the court. As the turnovers mounted, St. Francis attempted to re-group using another time-out at 2:51. The Lady Indians would not score again in the first half. Kaycee Miller added two driving scores to the Lady Bulldogs side of the scoreboard in the final minutes of the half. St. Francis trailed 11-24 at halftime.
The Lady Indians scored ten points in the third period nearly matching their first half total, but the Lady Bulldogs continued to widen the margin. Taighe Weeter's driving score opened the third period scoring. Noel Ritter followed with a shot from the the elbow. A top-of-the-key trey by Lauren Johnson reduced the deficit to ten points (16-26), but soon GP added another Miller drive and a Ritter score on press offense. Johnson's second trey of the quarter helped, but she received her 4th foul soon after and left the contest. The Lady Bulldogs soon earned a score by Maggi Nieman (5' 7" Sr.), a free-throw and post basket by Ritter, a free-throw by Mabel Lugo (5' 8" So.), and a right-wing basket by Amande Cheney (5' 5" Jr.). The outburst placed the Lady Indians at a 19-38 deficit. Free-throws by Emma Johnson and Lindsey Johnson closed the third period. St. Francis trailed 21-38.
Another post basket by GP to open the final period was answered by consecutive free-throws by Hanna Bracelin. A 6:51, Miller was fouled on a three-point attempt and sank all three tries. After an exchange of free-throws, GP's Kaylei Schaben (5' 10" Sr.) scored on a stick-back basket. Golden Plains widened the margin to 24 points (28-24) on another post basket near the four-minute mark. An assist by Lauren Johnson set up a right-wing score by Emma Johnson moments later. Ritter then added a free-throw and a offensive rebound basket after the Lady Indians allowed an offensive rebound after a free-throw. The margin widened to 51-26. Taighe Weeter added a free-throw and Hannah Zimbal an out-of-bounds play score in the closing moments. St. Francis lost to a good Golden Plains team 51-29.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Taighe Weeter with 9 points. Lauren Johnson added 8 and Hanna Bracelin 6. Others scoring for the Lady Indians were Emma Johnson 3, Hannah Zimbal 2, and Lindsey Johnson 1. St. Francis was good on 7 of 12 from the charity stripe.
Noel Ritter scored 17 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs. Kaycee Miller scored 16 points, Kaylie Schaben added 6 and Maggi Neiman 5. Golden Plains made 11 of 18 from the line.
The Lady Indians will play Dundy County/Stratton, in Benkelman, on Friday, December 15th.
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