All was well because things ended well for the Emporia High girls on Friday night.
The Lady Spartans might not have played their best, but they certainly did enough to win in a 53-29 victory over Highland Park.
“That wasn’t our greatest,” EHS guard Jessica Muckenthaler said, “but it feels good to win.”
With a comfortable lead, the Lady Spartans also were able to carry out the perfect Senior Night script. Not only did each of the four seniors score — which included fourth-quarter layups from Nicole Burdiek and Kira Douglas — but they also were able to be substituted out of the game one by one to receive their own applause.
The four were then honored after the game, leaving the court with linked hands for one final time.
“This year our team is really close — probably one of the closest teams we’ve ever had,” EHS guard Rachael Bachman said. “Everyone likes each other, and we all get along. We never fight. It’s just going to be hard to leave this.”
Though things turned out well late, the Lady Spartans couldn’t help but be frustrated early.
EHS jumped out to a 10-2 lead after the first quarter but failed to put the game away, missing numerous opportunities at the free-throw line.
After hitting just 6 of 12 free throws in the first quarter, EHS made just 1 of its 6 shots from the line in the second quarter, finishing 7-of-18 (39 percent) in the opening 16 minutes.
Following two missed free throws and then a blown layup in the second quarter, the shooting slump was so maddening that EHS coach Bill Nienstedt turned around and kicked the wooden bleacher underneath the bench.
“It was a little bit of a frustrating night considering we won by as large of a margin as we did,” Nienstedt said. “We kind of like to set the bar high and worry about how we play instead of what the score is.
“He just wasn’t happy with our play,” Bachman said. “He knew we could play better. He would never push us if he didn’t know we could do better.”
EHS responded after halftime, hitting 8 of 11 (73 percent) free throws.
The Lady Spartans outscored the Lady Scots in each quarter to build their lead.
Nichole Naab led EHS with 12 points, while Muckenthaler and Sadie Webb had nine apiece.
Bachman finished with a team-high eight rebounds, while Douglas and Burdiek both had two points despite combining for just three shots.
“It was really nice to see those kids score,” Nienstedt said. “They work so hard, and they’re such good people.”
Freshman Kanesha Mock paced Highland Park with 11 points.
Muckenthaler said it was difficult for her to believe that her high school career was nearly over.
“It doesn’t seem real,” Muckenthaler said. “It seems like just yesterday I was a freshman. It just hasn’t sunk in yet.”
EHS (13-7) will open Sub-State play next week. With a victory, the Lady Spartans could host one more game at the EHS gym.
Centennial League
Friday at EHS
Highland Park 2 7 9 11 — 29
Emporia 10 13 14 16 — 53
HIGHLAND PARK
Mock 4-15 3-4 11, Nicholson 3-7 1-3 7, McClelland 2-4 1-3 5, Rhoiney 1-5 1-2 3, Russell 1-5 0-2 2, Cosey 0-1 1-2 1, Jackson 0-3 0-0 0, Grenado 0-1 0-0 0, Kingcannon 0-1 0-0 0, Ross 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 11-43 7-16 29.
EMPORIA (13-7, 7-6 Centennial League)
Naab 4-9 4-4 12, Muckenthaler 3-5 3-3 9, Webb 4-8 1-1 9, Bachman 2-7 2-4 6, Hileman 1-3 3-9 5, Armitage 1-6 2-4 4, Arndt 1-3 0-2 2, Douglas 1-1 0-0 2, Burdiek 1-2 0-0 2, Leihsing 1-1 0-0 2, VanGundy 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-46 15-28 53.
3-point goals — HP 0-5 (Mock 0-2, Nicholson 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Ross 0-1), Emporia 0-7 (Armitage 0-2, Naab 0-2, Bachman 0-1, Webb 0-1, VanGundy 0-1). Rebounds — HP 24 (Nicholson, McClelland 5), Emporia 38 (Bachman 8). Turnovers — HP 13, Emporia 8. Total fouls — HP 19, Emporia 16. Fouled out — HP: McClelland.