Final: Great Bend 39, Emporia 35
By Joey Berlin
Originally published 03:42 p.m., March 13, 2009
Updated 05:08 p.m., March 13, 2009
Final
Emporia's 14-game winning streak and quest for a State title ended Friday with a 39-35 loss to Great Bend in the State semifinals.
A Hilary Heinrichs basket pulled the Spartans to within 35-33 with about 35 seconds remaining, but they wouldn't get any closer after that, as Great Bend's Alex Hartig and Kalie LeShore hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Emporia had problems shooting from the field, where they hit 36.8 percent of their shots, and the foul line, where they were 6-of-16 for 37.5 percent. Great Bend shot 45.5 percent from the floor and was 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from the line.
Lindy Arndt had 13 points and nine rebounds to lead Emporia, and Lexi Hileman had 12 points and seven rebounds. Hartig had nine points and 10 rebounds to lead Great Bend. The Spartans will play in the third-place game tomorrow at noon, while Great Bend advances to the 4 p.m. championship game against the winner between Carroll and Miege.
For complete coverage of Friday's game, please see Saturday's Gazette.
End of 3rd quarter
Great Bend leads Emporia 24-21 after Devan Boeger buried a 3-pointer at the quarter buzzer for the Panthers.
Rachelle VanGundy and Lexi Hileman executed a screen-and-roll play to give Emporia its first lead of the second half, with Hileman scoring on a tough layin to make it 19-17. Two baskets by the Panthers gave them a 21-19 lead before Lindy Arndt drove for a layup to tie the score at 21.
Halftime
TOPEKA — Emporia High trails Great Bend 16-14 at halftime of the first Class 5A State girls semifinal at the Kansas Expocentre.
The Spartans trailed 12-8 at the end of the first quarter, and the Panthers increased that lead to 14-8 before Emporia slowly put together three baskets to pull even, the last a drive and runner by Taylor Elbe from just inside the free throw line. A basket by Great Bend's Alexis Hartig with around 35 seconds left in the half gave the Panthers the lead back.
Lexi Hileman has seven points and three rebounds for the Spartans, and Lindy Arndt has four points.
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
If they had their starting guard I think the results would have been different!
March 14, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
The starting guard blew off the team with her actions. It is not on the team any longer
March 14, 2009 at 9:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )