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Junior High Girls Advance

by Kent Kechter

The junior high girls basketball teams both advanced to the final round of the Northwest Kansas League Basketball Tournament with opening round wins on Saturday, January 12. The Lady Indians will now play on Monday, January 15, in Sharon Springs. 

A-Team

The A-team earned a 29-11 opening round win over Hoxie. The teams battled to a 4-all tie after one-period of action, but the Lady Indians found the basket with regularity in the second quarter increasing their advantage to 14-6 at halftime. St. Francis received 6 points from Talexa Weeter in the second period. 

In the third period, the Indians increased the margin to 20-8 getting baskets from Ellee Krien, Mia Morrow, and Jesslynn Houtman. Four different Lady Indians added to the point total in the final stanza. St. Francis rolled to a 29-11 win over Hoxie.

Hoxie was led in scoring by Foote and Jacobs each with 4 points. Hoxie made 3 of 8 from the line and were called for 14 fouls.

St Francis received 15 points from Talexa Weeter. Rian Zimbal added 4. Ellee Krien, Mia Morrow, Jesslynn Houtman, McKenna Poling, and Jordan Faulkender each chipped in 2 points. The Lady Indians connected on 3 of 8 from the stripe and were whistled for only 7 fouls.

With the win, the A-team advanced to the championship semi-finals where they earned a 26-21 win over Rawlins County. St. Francis led 5-3 after one period and slightly increased their advantage in the second period to lead 13-10 at the halftime break. The teams battled almost evenly throughout the contest. The Lady Indians led 18-15 after at the third quarter break and eventually won the contest 26-21.

The Lady Indians received 9 points from Jordyn Faulkender and 8 from Talexa Weeter in the contest. Others adding to the St. Francis score were Ellee Krien 5, Rian Zimbal 2, and McKenna Poling 2. The Lady Indians made 4 of 14 from the stripe and were called for 13 fouls.

Rawlins County was led by S. Sramek with 6 points. Rawlins County made 7 of 13 from the line and committed 12 fouls.

The A-team will play Decatur Community at 5:00 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium at Wallace County High School.

B-Team

The B-team defeated Quinter 34-7 in the first round of the tournament and then lost a very close contest to Rawlins County (28-30) in the second round.

In the opening match-up versus Quinter, the Lady Indians received scoring from 10 different players enroute to a 34-7 blow-out win over the Lady Bulldogs. The Lady Indians jumped all over the Lady Bulldogs early getting baskets from 5 Lady Indians in the first quarter to lead 10-2 after one period of play. The Lady Bulldogs did not score again until the final period. St. Francis led 20-2 at halftime and 28-2 after three quarters. Though the Lady Bulldogs earned 5 points in the final period, the Lady Indians scored 6 to easily win 34-7.

The St. Francis win was a true team effort with 10 players contributing to the scoring column. The Lady Indians received 6 points each from Janie Ramirez, Hadleigh Hilt, and Bailey Workman. Angela Ramirez added four points. Makaila Matthies, Jackie Milliken, Bree De Waal, Molly Gilliland, Hailey Robbins, and Dani Broughman each added two points.

In the B-team championship semi-final contest, the Lady Indians faced Rawlins County. St. Francis led at the end of each quarter--except the final one. Receiving baskets from Bailey Workman, Janie Ramirez, Dani Broughman as well as four points from Molly Gilliland in the first period, the Lady Indians held a slim 7-10 lead after one period. Janie Ramirz scored all of the Lady Indians' points in the second period. St. Francis held a 16-15 advantage at halftime. St. Francis increased their advantage to 24-18 in the third period receiving 6 points from Ramirez and two from Gilliland. Rawlins County out-scored the Lady Indians 12-4 in the final quarter to earn a come-from-behind victory. The Lady Indians had a shot roll off the rim in the final seconds that would have tied the contest. St. Francis lost to Rawlins County 28-30.

Janie Ramirez led the Lady Indians in scoring with 16 points. Others scoring for the Lady Indians included Molly Gilliland 6, Bailey Workman 2, Hailey Robbins 2, and Dani Broughman 2. Rippe led Rawlins County with 13 points (7 in the final period).

The B-team will play Wallace County for third place at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, January 15, in the Wallace County Grade School Gymnasium.