Buffs down Panthers, 44-22
BELLEVILLE — Limited to just 10 points over the final three quarters, the Concordia High School girls' basketball team lost 44-22 to Republic County Tuesday night.
Concordia jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game, and led 12-10 after one quarter of play.
The Panthers managed just two field goals and six points in the second period, and two field goals and four points in the entire second half as Republic County pulled away for its first win of the season.
“Turnovers,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeier said of why his team was struggling on offense, “Defensively I felt we handled them much better in the half-court than we did last year, but we are just giving turnovers for layups and we have got to fix that.”
Concordia (0-2) finished with 19 turnovers in the game, with the bulk of those coming in the final three quarters.
Playing a second straight road game to open the season, the Panthers pumped in eight points, four by junior guard Zoe Bechard, in the first four minutes of the game.
Three-point baskets by Emma Morris and Alexis Hansen and two free throws by Tobi Wilber pulled the Buffaloes even at 8-8 with 2:10 to play in the first quarter.
Concordia halted the Republic County run when Karlee Wahlmeier and Kendall Reynolds scored on consecutive possessions to make it a 12-8 game.
Wahlmeier, a 5-9 post player, left the game in the first half with an injury and did not return.
The Panthers were already without reserve post player Abby Donovan, also out with an injury.
“Karlee going out, without Abby to stick in there, kind of threw a wrench in our works. We didn't handle it very well,” Wahlmeier said.
Concordia would go the first 3:30 of the second quarter without scoring.
Scoring seven straight points to open the period, Republic County took its first lead of the game, 17-12.
Wahlmeier made one of two free throws to make it 17-13.
Two free throws by Hansen put the Buffaloes up 19-13.
Reynolds connected on a three to cut the deficit in half, 19-16.
Republic County outscored Concordia 6-2 over the final 2:35 of the first half, and led 25-18.
Two free throws by Hansen gave the Buffaloes a 27-18 cushion.
A basket by Jara Nordell left the Panthers trailing 27-20.
Concordia would not score again until Bechard hit a short bank shot with nearly two minutes gone by in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers, hampered by turnovers, got off just six shots in the third period, and made just one.
“We are taking away opportunities for ourselves with those turnovers, and then we are feeling rushed. We get a little bit of an opening and we think we have to shoot it right there. So we have got to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” Wahlmeier said.
Republic County scored the final six points of the third quarter and the first two in the fourth to build a 35-20 lead.
Bechard's basket made it 37-22 with 6:05 to play.
The Panthers would not score again. They finished 2 of 16 from the field in the second half.
Reynolds led Concordia with eight points and grabbed five rebounds.
Bechard scored six points.
Terin Rundus had a team high eight rebounds.
Hansen tossed in 17 points for Republic County.
Concordia will play its first home game when it hosts Smoky Valley on Friday night.
CONCORDIA (22)
Bechard 3-0-3 6, Wilson 0-0-5 0, Nordell 1-0-0 2, Reynolds 3-0-2 8, Wahlmeier 1-2-1 4, Rundus 1-0-4 2. Totals: 9-2-16 22.
REPUBLIC COUNTY (44)
Lewellyn 2-0-3 4, Wheeler 2-0-0 4, Hansen 3-10-0 17, Morris 2-0-0 5, Wilber 0-2-0 2, Jensik 3-0-2 7, Popelka 1-0-1 2, Graves 1-0-3 3, Cole 0-0-1 0. Totals: 13-12-9 44.