Lady Indians Defeated In Championship Game
Place 2nd in NWKL Tourney
The Lady Indians earned second place in the Northwest Kansas League Basketball Tournament. The Lady Indians lost to Rawlins County 36-47 on Saturday, January 19, in the championship contest in Sharon Springs. The Lady Buffaloes' excellent defensive pressure made it difficult for the Lady Indians to score, and St. Francis trailed throughout most of the contest. The Lady Indians played well for the most part, but just could not earn the much-desired win.
An assist from Karly Bandel led to an out-of-bounds play score by Hannah Zimbal to open the scoring. Rawlins County's (RC) Angie Singhateh (5' 8" Sr.) answered with a basket from the right elbow. A top-of-the key deuce by Lindsey Johnson was followed by a basket in the lane by Kristen Beckman (5' 5" Jr.). St. Francis would not lead again. A right-wing jumper by Libby Mosley (5' 4" Jr.) was answered by an out-of-bounds play basket by Lindsey Johnson, and at 3:36, the Lady Indians used their first time-out. A post basket by Singhateh was followed by a post basket by Lindsey Johnson. It would be the last time the teams would be tied. RC's Amy Crouse drained a left-wing trey giving the Lady Buffs an 8-11 lead. Hannah Zimbal closed the first-quarter scoring with consecutive free-throws. St. Francis trailed by one (10-11) at the first-quarter horn.
Scoring was very limited in the second period. Rawlins County scored but 6 points; the Lady Indians did not score. Kristen Beckman earned a post basket in the early minutes of the period. At 5:06, the Lady Indians used a time-out. Later in the first half, Angie Singhateh earned a score from the post. Angie followed with a nice move completing press offense a few minutes later. St. Francis trailed 10-17 at halftime.
The Lady Indians earned 10 points in the third stanza; unfortunately, the Lady Buffs scored 18. A free-throw by Lauren Johnson was followed by an stick-back basket by Amy Crouse. Lauren Johnson's left-wing trey trimmed the margin to five (14-19), and RC used their first time-out at 6:36. Emma Johnson's right-wing trey narrowed the gap to two. After a post basket by Kristen Beckman, Emma Johnson scored on a back-door cut on an assist from sister Lauren (19-22). Angie Singhateh added a free-throw, and at 3:21, St. Francis used their 3rd time-out. Beckman's left-wing trey on an out-of-bounds play started a 13-point run for the Lady Buffs. The run included a driving score by Crouse, a trey by Libby Mosley, an offensive rebound basket by Crouse, and a left-wing trey by Beckman. Though the Lady Indians used their 4th time-out trying to curb the momentum, the Lady Buffs hot streak had blown the game open (19-35). Lauren Johnson added a free-throw in the closing moments of the period. St. Francis trailed 20-35 at the third-quarter break.
With the addition of a post basket by Kierstyn Domsch (5' 7" So.) to open the final period, the margin grew to seventeen (20-37). St. Francis then earned two free-throws by Hannah Zimbal and a stick-back basket by Emma Johnson. At 5:09, RC took their second time-out. After a post basket by Angie Singhateh and a steal-two by Libby Mosley, Emma Johnson scored again; this time on a nice left-handed drive. RC used another time-out to adjust their defense at 3:29. Three free-throws by Alondra Gomez were followed by a top-of-the-key trey by Lindsey Johnson (assist Emma). The three-ball moved the Lady Indians within ten (31-41). An exchange of free-throws by Singhateh and Gomez was followed by a press offense basket by RC's Taryn Sattler (5' 2" Sr.). The final two scores of the contest would come on a left-wing trey by Emma Johnson and another press offense score by Singhateh. St. Francis lost a competitive contest to Rawlins County 36-47.
Angie Singhateh led all scorers with 15 points. Kristen Beckman added 14 for Rawlins County. Amy Crouse chipped in 9 and Libby Mosley 7. The Lady Buffs made 3 of 5 from the stripe, were whistled for 16 fouls, and committed 15 turnovers.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Emma Johnson with 12 points. Lindsey Johnson added 9. Others scoring for St. Francis were Hannah Zimbal 6, Lauren Johnson 5, and Alondra Gomez 4. The Lady Indians committed 16 turnovers and 12 fouls and made 10 of 13 from the line.
The Lady Indians and Lady Buffs will play again in St. Francis on Friday, January 25.
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