Knights knock off Panthers, 48-40

SALINA — Knocking down 10 three-point shots, including eight by senior Katie Weiss, the Sacred Heart Knights handed the Concordia High School Panthers a second straight loss, 48-40, on Saturday night.
Weiss connected on 8 of 10 attempts from three-point range in leading all scorers in the game with 24 points.
Sacred Heart also got two threes by Skylar Douglas, who finished with 17 points.
“In the scouting report we said we needed to go wherever number one (Weiss) goes. Sometimes you just have to give them credit, they get a hot hand like that. She is hard to guard because not only does she shoot but she is looking to attack,” Concordia coach Trey Kuhlman said. “When you make that many threes, trading twos for threes it is kind of hard to win the game.”
The game was tied at 3-3 when Weiss buried consecutive threes to put Sacred Heart on top to stay, 9-3.
Jaylin Roush scored inside for Concordia to make it 9-5.
Those were the only two points for the Panthers over the final 4:03 of the first quarter.
Another three by Weiss and a free throw by Lee gave the Knights a 13-5 cushion.
Skylar Douglas scored the first two points of the second quarter and Sacred Heart led 15-5.
Concordia (6-7) got a three-point basket by Carlie Carlgren, a bucket by Taylor McDaniel and two free throws by Roush to close to within three points, 15-12.
The two teams traded baskets and Weiss made her third three of the first half.
A three-point play by Charlize Cash and a basket by Roush left the Panthers trailing just 20-19.
Roush came off the bench to score a team-high 12 points for the Panthers.
Douglas scored for Sacred Heart, but Rylie Jessup answered with a pair of free throws that made it 22-21 at halftime.
Adelyn Lee scored the first two points of the second half, and the Knights led 24-21.
A three by Jessup pulled Concordia even at 24-24.
Sacred Heart answered with a three by Weiss and a basket by Douglas.
Cash scored for Concordia, but Douglas connected on a three.
Carlgren and Roush turned offensive rebounds into baskets, and the Panthers were down 35-32.
Weiss drilled another three.
Concordia got a jumper by McDaniel, but Weiss struck again to give Sacred Heart a 41-34 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Kinsleigh Bethune made a three, and Concordia was again within four points, 41-37.
The Panthers then scored just three points over the final 7:27 of the game.
“I didn’t think we were trying to be as aggressive as we should have been late in the game. We just needed to shoot it with confidence still and turn defensive stops into baskets,” Kuhlman said.
Sacred Heart made five of nine free throws in outscoring the Panthers 7-3 over that final stretch.
“I thought our girls gave good effort. We just didn't come out with a win,” Kuhlman said.
Carlgren scored seven points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Concordia. Cash also scored seven points.
Concordia will play a ninth consecutive game away from home at Abilene on Tuesday night.
The Cowgirls are 0-14 and lost 53-31 to the Panthers in the first North Central Kansas League meeting this season.

CONCORDIA (40)
Bethune 1-0-3 3, Jessup 1-2-1 5, Carlgren 3-0-2 7, Cash 2-3-0 7, McDaniel 3-0-0 6, Williams 0-0-3 0, Roush 5-2-1 12. Totals: 14-2-10 40.
SACRED HEART (48)
Weiss 8-0-1 24, Torrey 0-0-3 0, Douglas 7-1-1 17, Lee 1-4-3 6, Richards 0-1-0 1, Eshleman 0-0-3 0. Totals: 16-6-10 48.