Lady Indians Advance to Regional Semi-Final on Thursday
The Lady Indians jumped all over the Northern Valley Lady Huskies early in the opening round of the 1A Regional Tournament in St. Francis on Monday evening, February 18, and cruised to a 58-25 victory. With the win, the Lady Indians advanced to the semi-final contest versus Rawlins County to be held in Rexford on Thursday, February 21, at 6:00 p.m.
Rawlins County received a bye in the opening round by coin flip. Rawlins County and St. Francis have played twice previously during the season. Rawlins County beat St. Francis 36-47 in the championship contest of the Northwest Kansas League Tournament in January. The Lady Indians won on their home court six days later, 38-34.
On the opposite side of the Regional bracket, Golden Plains (18-0) received a bye. Cheylin defeated Triplains-Brewster 48-14 to advance into the semi-final contest against Golden Plains. The two teams will play at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. The winners of the two semi-final contests will play for the regional championship on Saturday, February 23, at 6:00 in Rexford. Click here to view the Lady Indians' Regional bracket.
The Lady Indians opened the quarter-final contest with a flurry. On the first Lady Indian possession, Lauren Johnson's assist to Lindsey Johnson resulted in a short-range score (plus one). Lindsey then scored on an assist from Karly Bandel earning a 5-0 lead. Northern Valley's Brianna Sammons (5' 8" Sr.) put the Lady Huskies on the scoreboard capitalizing on a Lady Indian turnover. Bandel's next assist led to a transition basket by Lindsey Johnson. After a steal-two by Bandel increased the margin to 9-2, Northern Valley (NV) used a time-out at 4:58. After returning to action, Hannah Zimbal scored on a fast-break (assist Bandel). A steal by Lauren Johnson resulted in an empty possession for the Lady Indians, but the next Lady Indian steal resulted in a technical foul on the Lady Huskies' Sammons at 4:04 when she tripped Lauren Johnson. The action nullified a certain lay-up for St. Francis, but Lauren Johnson sank both technical free-throws. On the resulting possession, Lauren's assist led to a top-of-the-key trey by Alondra Gomez. Bandel's lob to Lindsey Johnson resulted in another short-range score. With the addition of a Bandel free-throw, the Lady Indians led 19-2. Only one more point would be scored in the first period; a free-throw by NV's Jasmine Covington (6' 1" Jr.).
Northern Valley would fair much better in the second period, as the Lady Indians' intensity and execution seemed to wane. On the first possession of the stanza, NV's Savannah Rose (5' 6" Fr.) scored in the lane. St. Francis followed with a top-of-the-key trey by Emma Johnson (assist McKenna Poling). After an out-of-bounds play score by Covington, Lauren Johnson added a basket for the Lady Indians. At 6:24, St. Francis used their first time-out. The Lady Huskies added four more points while the Lady Indians had difficulty scoring for several minutes. Two free-throws by Makenna Hammond (5' 6" Sr.) and an assist from Andromeda Hausserman (5' 5" Fr.) to Jasmine Covington in the post trimmed the margin to 24-11. At 3:40, the Lady Indians used another time-out to regroup. After returning to action, St. Francis earned three more scores before the half closed; two free-throws after a steal by Karly Bandel, a steal-two by Lauren Johnson, and fast-break basket by Lindsey Johnson (assist Lauren). St. Francis led 30-11 at halftime.
Lauren Johnson opened the third period with a nice left-handed jump hook in the lane. Lindsey Johnson's assist set up a lay-up by Karly Bandel. The lead was now 23 (34-11). Jasmine Covington used her height advantage to add another post score (plus one), but Bandel followed with a free-throw and Emma Johnson tossed in a trey. On her second offensive rebound of a possession, Covington scored again from short-range. Karly Bandel's driving score was followed by a free-throw by NV's Rose. At 2:46, Lindsey Johnson picked up her 4th foul and left the contest temporarily. Back-to-back treys from the left wing, one by Bandel and one by Mia Morrow, increased the margin to 29 (46-17). A left-wing deuce by NV's Raelea Blecha (5' 5" Fr.) followed. On the next St. Francis possession, Jordyn Faulkender scored from the post. A steal-two by Morrow completed the third period scoring. St. Francis led 50-19 at the break.
St. Francis continued the run in the final period, extending it to 12 points. A steal by Karly Bandel resulted in an offensive rebound score by Hannah Zimbal on the possession. With a running clock and many substitute players getting action, Lyden Lampe's assist led to a score by Lindsey Johnson. Emma Johnson followed with a right-wing banking trey. With the addition of a free-throw by McKenna Poling, the Lady Indians led 58-19. Brianna Sammons added a DEEP trey for the Lady Huskies and followed it with a free-throw. The final score of the contest came on an offensive rebound by Covington. St. Francis defeated the Northern Valley Lady Huskies 58-25 to advance to the Regional semi-finals.
St. Francis was led in scoring by Lindsey Johnson with 15 points. Karly Bandel added 13. Others scoring for St. Francis included Emma Johnson 9, Lauren Johnson 6, Mia Morrow 5, Hannah Zimbal 4, Alondra Gomez 3, Jordyn Faulkender 2, and McKenna Poling 1. The Lady Indians made 8 of 13 from the free-throw line, committed 16 fouls, and had 20 turnovers.
Northern Valley was led in scoring by Jasmine Covington with 12 points. Brianna Sammons added 6. The Lady Huskies committed 20 turnovers, had 15 fouls, and made 6 of 11 from the stripe.
Click the photos to see more photos!
