Andover topples Panthers in SIT

SALINA — Limited to just one field goal and five points over the final two quarters, the Concordia High School girls’ basketball team suffered a 45-22 loss to Andover in the opening round of the Salina Invitational Tournament played Thursday night at Salina Central High School.
Concordia, seeded fourth in the tournament, trailed Andover just 19-17 at halftime.
Andover, seeded fifth, outscored the Panthers 8-3 in the third quarter and 18-1 in the fourth to pull away to the victory and advance to the semifinals.
“The girls' desire, aggressiveness, will to win and competitiveness wasn't there,” Concordia coach Carly Bloomfield said. “I think there was an intimidation factor, not with Andover, but with the SIT in general. I think the girls had an intimidated mindset going into the tournament, regardless of who we played, and I think that affected the ballgame from the very first play.”
Concordia (3-5) drops into the consolation bracket and was scheduled to play Wichita West tonight.
Wichita West, seeded eighth, fell 64-18 to top-seeded Salina Central on Thursday.
Also in the first round, second-seeded Liberal doubled up Abilene 62-31 and sixth-seeded Salina South upset third-seeded Buhler, 38-20.
Andover, now 3-7 after snapping a three-game losing streak, takes on top-seeded Salina Central tonight in the semifinals.
Clinging to the two-point halftime lead, Andover got a three-point basket by freshman Brooke Walker and a jumper by Brooke Eby to go up 24-17 in the third quarter.
Senior Terin Rundus scored off an offensive rebound with 4:20 to play in the third period, and Concordia trailed 24-19.
That would be the Panthers’ only field goal in the second half.
Walker scored on a drive, and it was a 26-19 Andover lead.
Two free throws by Zoe Bechard got the Panthers back within five points with 2:51 remaining in the quarter.
Walker went one of two from the free throw line, and the Trojans led 27-21 heading into the final eight minutes of play.
A three-point basket by Mallory Woolston ignited a 16-0 Andover run to start the fourth quarter, that made it a 43-21 game.
The Panthers’ only point in the quarter came with 1:15 on the clock when reserve Madison Meyer made one of two free throws.
Reynolds and Rundus scored six points each to lead the way for Concordia.
Walker scored 13 of her team high 16 points for Andover in the second half.
Woolston added 12 points.
Connecting on just one of six field goal attempts and committing six turnovers, Concordia scored just four points in the first quarter of the game.
A basket by Chloe Conway pulled the Panthers even with the Trojans at 4-4.
Concordia would then go the final four-plus minutes of the period without scoring.
Andover tossed in eight straight points to go up 12-4.
Trailing 16-8 in the second stanza, the Panthers mounted a charge.
Consecutive jumpers by Rundus, a basket by Conway and a free throw by Hanna Acree pulled Concordia within a point, 16-15.
Woolston made one of two free throws and then scored on a drive to give Andover a 19-15 cushion.
Two free throws by Kendall Reynolds with five seconds to play in the first half left the Panthers trailing just 19-17.
Despite scoring just four points in the third quarter, Concordia was still within striking distance heading into the fourth but went nearly seven minutes without scoring as the Trojans pulled away.

ANDOVER (45)
Walker 6-1-1 16, Anderson 0-1-1 1, Woolston 5-1-2 12, Johnson 0-1-0 1, Ralston 2-2-0 6, Shetlar 0-0-2 0, Christensen 0-0-2 0, Eby 3-0-0 6, Forney 0-2-2 2, Kelly 0-1-2 1, McManus 0-0-1 0. Totals: 16-9-13 45.
CONCORDIA (22)
Bechard 0-4-1 4, Reed 0-0-1 0, Acree 0-1-2 1, Conway 2-0-2 4, Reynolds 2-2-1 6, Carlgren 0-0-1 0, Meyer 0-1-0 1. Totals: 7-8-11 22.