CHS girls hold off Buffaloes, 39-34

BELLEVILLE —Building a 15-point lead and then hanging on in the closing minutes, the Concordia High School girls' basketball team picked up its first win of the season by knocking off the Republic County Buffaloes 39-34 Tuesday night.
Baskets by Ashley Bartlett and Carlie Carlgren to open the fourth quarter gave Concordia a 39-24 lead on Republic County.
The Panthers would not score again in the game.
Republic County used a 10-0 run to close the gap to 39-34.
Concordia then held the Buffaloes scoreless over the final 3:30 to secure the win.
“I think it is a much needed win, confidence booster, especially early in the season. We need that,” Concordia coach Carly Bloomfield said of the win. “Confidence wise, it is good for our team.”
Coming off a loss at Beloit to open the season, the Panthers scored the first 10 points of the game against Republic County and would never trail in the game.
“They were just looking to attack the basket. We had a lot better ball movement, and instead of looking to pass they were looking to attack the basket and score,” Bloomfield said.
A layup by Rosalie Goertzen and a three-point basket by Avery Stindt pulled Republic County within five points, 10-5.
Concordia got baskets by Hanna Acree, Cianna DeLeon and Taylor McDaniel to go up 16-5 heading into the second quarter.
Stindt, a freshman guard who led all scorers with 21 points, scored five during an 8-2 Republic County spurt to open the second period that made it an 18-13 game.
Carlie Carlgren scored on a drive and Hattie Blackwood knocked down a three-point shot to give the Panthers a 23-13 cushion.
Stindt scored for the Buffaloes, but Concordia got a basket by Carlgren and a free throw by Acree to extend its lead to 26-15.
A free throw in the closing seconds of the first half left Republic County trailing 26-16.
The Buffaloes (0-3) opened the second half with a 6-2 spurt to get within six points, 28-22.
McDaniel and Bartlett scored for Concordia.
Stindt hit a jumper for Republic County, but the Panthers responded with a three-point play by DeLeon to go up 35-24 heading into the fourth quarter.
DeLeon, a 5-7 junior, scored a career-high 11 points to pace the Panthers. She was four of eight from the field and three of three from the free throw line and also had five rebounds and three steals.
“Cianna did do a good job. I would like to keep her where she is at and have some of the other girls step up. It is going to be necessary if we are going to be competitive. She played well,” Bloomfield said.
Concordia would take its biggest lead at 39-24 when Bartlett and Carlgren scored in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Panthers would not score again.
Republic County got three-point baskets by Stindt and Zelma Siemsen during a 10-0 surge that closed the gap to 39-34 with 3:30 to play.
Concordia was unable to convert on a pair of one-and-one opportunities during the final minutes.
Republic County missed on its final five field goal attempts as the Panthers held on for the win.
Acree scored seven points for Concordia.
Carlgren finished with six points, six rebounds and four steals.
Blackwood also scored six points.
The Panthers will host Smoky Valley in the first of three consecutive home games.
“It is always nice playing at home. This will be our first time getting to play in front of a home crowd,” Bloomfield said.

CONCORDIA (39)
DeLeon 4-3-3 11, Acree 3-1-2 7, Carlgren 3-0-4 6, Bethune 0-0-3 0, Blackwood 2-0-1 6, Barlett 2-1-1 5, McDaniel 2-0-0 4. Totals: 16-5-14 39.
REPUBLIC COUNTY (34)
G. Siemsen 1-0-2 3, Henke 1-0-2 2, Stindt, 9-0-4 21, Goertzen 2-0-1 4, Snapp 0-0-4 0, Z. Siemsen 1-1-1 4. Totals: 14-1-16 34.