CHS girls fall to Marysville
MARYSVILLE — The second half has been a struggle for the Concordia Panthers.
Concordia had been outscored 99-68 in the second half of its first three games heading into the North Central Kansas League opener against Marysville on Tuesday night.
Trailing just 26-25 at halftime, the Panthers scored just 10 points over the final two period, while the Marysville pumped in 28 points to pull away to a 54-35 victory.
“Some of it is just things are catching up with us,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeier said of the second-half struggles, “I don't think we are consistently boxing out and rebounding very well. On defense we get a little bit tired. In the first half we made some shots and that makes things look better. In the second half we are struggling a little bit. We need to fight through that fatigue, and fight through the mental part of being tired and continue on.”
Marysville, after leading by a point at halftime, opened the third quarter with a three-point basket by Linda Franco and a three-point play by Sami Bartels to go up 32-25.
Consecutive baskets by Karlee Wahlmeier and Katlynn Miller pulled Concordia back within three points, 32-29.
The Panthers would connect on another shot from the field the rest of the game.
“I think we were just rushing. We were kind of panicking a little bit,” Wahlmeier said, “In the first half shots were going in and keeping us in the game. I was happy with the way we responded to their runs. But in the second half we didn't have that response.”
Grace Lauer made one of two free throws, and the Bulldogs led 33-29.
Chloe Conway knocked down a pair of charity tosses for Concordia to make it a 33-31 game with 2:53 to play in the third period.
Marysville, 2-3 overall and 1-1 in league play, scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 39-31 advantage.
Back to back buckets by Emma Peschel in the first minute of the fourth quarter pushed the Bulldogs' lead to 43-31.
A free throw by Wahlmeier made it 43-32.
Marysville answered with baskets by Emily Dressman and Franco to go on top 47-32.
Concordia (2-3) got no closer than 13 points over the final four minutes.
Miller scored 11 points for the Panthers, and also had four steals.
Wahlmeier came off the bench to score eight points and grab five rebounds.
Concordia shot just 21 percent (11 of 52) from the field and were 10 of 17 from the free throw.
Bartels led all scorers with 19 points.
“I thought there were several times she (Bartels) just beat all five players on the floor to the ball,” Wahlmeier said, “She played a really nice game.
Franco scored 11 points for the Bulldogs.
Despite hitting just 4 of 15 field goal attempts, turning the ball over six times and committing seven fouls, Concordia trailed just 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.
A jumper by Nicole Franco and a follow by Bartels gave Marysville a 19-12 cushion.
Putting together a 10-2 run, the Panthers battle back to take a 22-21 lead when Miller hit a three-point shot with 1:05 to play in the first half.
Marysville scored five straight points to reclaim the lead at 26-22.
A three-point basket by Miller as time ran out pulled Concordia within a point, 26-25.
The Panthers were unable to get untracked offensively in the second half.
Concordia will host Abilene in a league game on Friday night.
CONCORDIA (35)
Bechard 1-0-3 2, E. Wahlmeier 0-0-2 0, Conway 1-3-3 5, Reynolds 1-1-2 4, K. Wahlmeier 2-4-4 8, Kearn 1-0-0 2, Rundus 1-1-2 3, Miller 4-1-2 11. Totals: 11-10-18 35.
MARYSVILLE (54)
L. Franco 3-4-1 11, Peschel 3-0-2 6, N. Franco 4-1-4 9, Bartels 6-7-2 19, Lauer 0-1-1 1, Roever 1-0-3 2, Ronnebaum 1-0-0 2, Dressing 1-0-1 2, Schaeffer 1-0-0 2. Totals: 20-13-14 54.