Girls Play Well; Lose to GP
JV Girls Win
The Lady Indians split there games with Golden Plains on Saturday, January 5, in Rexford. The varsity Lady Indians lost a hard-fought decision to the Lady Bulldogs 35-41. The junior varsity Lady Indians defeated Golden Plains 23-14 in a two-quarter contest. The games were originally scheduled earlier in the season, but were postponed due to poor weather conditions.
Golden Plains struck first in the varsity contest getting a post basket from Mable Lugo (5' 8" Jr.) and a fast-break bucket from Ashley Stoll (5' 8" So.) to open the game. Lauren Johnson drained a trey from the top-of-the-key to get the Lady Indians on the scoreboard. After the addition of a free-throw by Zoey Hillis (6' 0" Jr.), Karly Bandel drew a charge on a driving KayCee Miller (5' 7" Sr.). At 2:08, Golden Plains (GP) called time-out. Noel Ritter (5' 8" Sr.) scored the only additional basket of the first quarter; a shot in the lane for GP. St. Francis trailed 3-7 after one quarter of play.
Karly Bandel opened the second period with a two quick baskets; a shot in the lane and a trey giving St. Francis the lead (8-7). Moments later, Jordyn Faulkender scored from the post to extend the margin (10-7). At 5:41, St. Francis took a time-out for strategy. After returning to the floor, Jordyn Faulkender added another post basket. Driving scores by sisters Kassie and KayCee Miller soon reduced the advantage to one. KayCee Miller's second basket of the quarter (out-of-bounds-play) gave GP a 12-13 lead. Mable Lugo added an offensive rebound basket (plus one) and a baseline drive to increase the deficit to 12-18. Alondra Gomez added a free-throw before the halftime buzzer. St. Francis trailed at halftime, 13-18.
Hannah Zimbal scored from the post to open the second half, but Brooke Stoll answered from the top-of-the-key moments later for GP. Ashley Stoll's baseline drive extended the deficit to seven (15-22), but the Lady Indians responded positively. Jordyn Falukender added a stick-back basket, and Karly Bandel swished a right-wing trey to narrow the gap to 20-22. The flurry triggered a GP time-out at 3:53. KayCee Miller soon scored consecutive free-throws after being fouled on a drive. At 2:47, St. Francis took their second time-out. Zimbal added two free-throws pulling the Lady Indians within two (22-24) for the second time in the quarter, but GP finished with a flurry. A coast-to-coast drive by Kassie Miller was followed by a drive by Brooke Stoll. KayCee Miller's right-wing trey at the buzzer proved huge. St. Francis trailed 22-31 at the third quarter break.
Lauren Johnson scored on a nice back-door cut (assist Karly Bandel) to open the final period. On the next GP possession the Lady Bulldogs earned a top-of-the-key trey after an offensive rebound. The play increased the margin to double-digits (24-34). St. Francis called time-out at 6:25 to regroup. An assist from Lauren Johnson led to a score in the lane by Jordyn Faulkender, and the Lady Indians called another time-out at 4:19. Unfortunately, a Lady Indian turnover led to a coast-to-coast basket by Kassie Miller after a return to action. Faulkender added an out-of-bounds play basket from the free-throw area a bit later. A free-throw by KayCee Miller and a long pass over the top against the Lady Indians' press resulted in a score by Mable Lugo. The deficit was now eleven (28-39). A basket in the lane (plus one) by Lindsey Johnson was followed by two more KayCee Miller free-throws. At 1:04, St. Francis used another time-out. The Lady Indians added two free-throws by Faulkender and a driving basket by Lindsey Johnson, but could not overcome the deficit. St. Francis lost to a good Golden Plains team 35-41.
Scoring for St. Francis in the varsity game were Jordyn Faulkender 12, Karly Bandel 8, Lauren Johnson 5, Lindsey Johnson 5, Hannah Zimbal 4, and Alondra Gomez 1. The Lady Indians made 6 of 9 from the stripe, recorded 19 fouls, and 21 turnovers.
Golden Plains was led by KayCee Miller with 12 points. Mable Lugo added 9, Brooke Stoll 7, and Kassie Miller 6. The Lady Bulldogs committed 15 fouls, 16 turnovers, and made 7 of 13 from the line.
In the two-quarter junior varsity game, St. Francis trailed early in the contest, but a post basket by Mia Morrow tied the contest. A top-of-the-key deuce by Amie Cheney (5' 4" Sr.) was followed by free-throws by Bailey Workman and Lyden Lampe tying the contest at 4-all. A pair of free-throws by Taryn Fleckenstein (5' 8" Jr.) preceded a free-throw by McKenna Poling. An out-of-bounds play basket by Jordyn Faulkender (assist Karly Bandel) placed St. Francis in the lead 7-6. The Lady Indians would not trail again. A right-wing trey by Emma Johnson moved the advantage to 10-6. Carli Neiman (5' 9" Fr.) made one-of-two from the line late in the quarter. The final score of the period came on an out-of-bounds play assist from Morrow to Johnson. St. Francis led 12-7 after one quarter.
Cheney added another free-throw to begin the second stanza. McKenna Poling followed with a driving score. After GP turnover, Lyden Lampe added a basket increasing the Lady Indian advantage to 16-8. After the addition of two free-throws by GP's Rayna Taylor (5' 6" Fr.), GP used another time-out at 5:31. After returning to action, GP earned a steal-two by Taylor and a top-of-the-key deuce by Morgan Wark (5' 7" Fr.). The action narrowed the margin to two (16-14) at the 4:05 mark. The Lady Bulldogs would not score again. St. Francis added baskets by Morrow, Alondra Gomez (steal-two), Bailey Workman (drive), and a free-throw by Morrow to close the contest. St. Francis won the junior varsity girls game 23-14.
The Lady Indians will play Weskan, in St. Francis, on Tuesday, January 8.
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