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Junior High Teams Win Final Round Games

A-Team Earns Championship; B-Team Third

by Kent Kechter

Both of the junior high girls basketball teams earned victories in the final round of the Northwest Kansas League Junior High Basketball Tournament in Sharon Springs on Monday, January 15. The A-team won the league championship with a 32-24 win over Decatur Community. The B-team defeated Wallace County 22-18 to win third place. The season is now concluded for junior high basketball.

A-Team

Four Lady Indians scored in the first period of the A-team championship game to give the Lady Indians an early lead. Ellee Krien, Talexa Weeter, McKenna Poling, and Jordyn Faulkender each added baskets, and Weeter made three free-throws to gain an 11-8 lead after one period of action. St. Francis added 9 more points in the second period and limited Decatur Community to 6 to increase the advantage to 20-14 at halftime.

The scoring slowed for both teams in the second half. St. Francis only scored 5 in the 3rd period and 7 in the final stanza, but it was enough to widen the margin as DC only mustered 4 and 6 points in each of the respective periods. St. Francis earned a 32-24 victory to claim the NWKL A-team championship.

Scoring for St. Francis in the A-team contest were Talexa Weeter 14, Jordyn Faulkender 6, Lyden Lampe 4, Rian Zimbal 4, Ellee Krien 2, and McKenna Poling 2. The Lady Indians made 9 of 14 from the free-throw line and committed 11 fouls.

Decatur Community was led by J. Fortin with 8 and B. Addleman with 6. The Lady Red Devils only converted 1 of 7 at the line and were whistled for 11 fouls.

B-Team

Both St. Francis and Wallace County struggled to score in the first half of the third place game in the B-team division. St. Francis' only score in the first period was a field goal by Hailey Robbins, but the basket was enough to hold a 2-1 lead at the end of the first period. St. Francis earned one basket each by Makaila Matthies and Molly Gilliland in the second quarter to hold a 6-5 lead at halftime.

Both teams scored at a more rapid rate in the second half. Wallace County earned 8 points in the third period while St. Francis managed 6; 4 by Hadleigh Hilt and 2 by Dani Broughman. Wallace County led by a slim 12-13 margin after three periods of action. In the final period, the Lady Indians earn baskets by four players (Hilt, Gilliland, Broughman, and Janie Ramirez) and two free-throws (Ramirez) to total 10 points. The Lady Wildcats only scored 5 in the period. St. Francis defeated Wallace County 22-18 to earn third place in the B-team division.

Scoring for St. Francis in the B-team contest were Hadleigh Hilt 6, Molly Gilliland 4, Janie Ramirez 4, Makaila Matthies 2, and Hailey Robbins 2. The Lady Indians made 4 of 10 from the stripe and committed 12 fouls.

Wallace County was led in scoring by C. Goodwin with 8 points. The Lady Cats also made 4 of 10 from the line and had 12 fouls.

Congratulations to the players and Coaches Shaylinn Zweygardt and Susan Dinkel on a good season.