Marysville defeats Concordia, 53-27
MARYSVILLE — Shorthanded, through no fault of their own, the Concordia Panthers suffered a second straight road loss, 53-27, to the Marysville Bulldogs Tuesday night.
Concordia had just six players available for the game because of COVID-19 issues.
A Smoky Valley junior varsity player tested positive for the virus following a game against Concordia last Friday night. That placed several Concordia players in quarantine.
With just six players making the trip, the Panthers dropped its North Central Kansas League opener to the Bulldogs.
“I don’t know that fatigue came into play tonight. I think it was more our routine was off. We weren’t able to practice against anybody. So our practices did, and will continue to, look different,” Concordia interim coach Carly Bloomfield said. “They can only do so many drills. You can’t scrimmage. So I think that kind of threw us for a loop.”
Concordia, now 1-2, led 3-2 three minutes into the game.
Marysville (1-3) put together a 10-2 run to take a 12-5 lead when Macy Roever knocked down a three-point shot with 2:05 to play in the first quarter.
The Panthers answered with a three-point basket by Hanna Acree.
A three-point play by Madison Ronnebaum, who led all scorers with 17 points, and two free throws by Eva Peschel gave Marysville a 16-8 lead going into the second quarter.
Hampered by turnovers, Concordia would score just two points the first six minutes of the second period.
“We have got to start taking care of the ball. Stop making turnovers,” Bloomfield said.
Roever hit a pair of three-point shots as Marysville used a 10-2 spurt to open up a 26-10 advantage.
A three-point basket by Zoe Bechard left Concordia trailing 26-13.
Kendall Reynolds answered two free throws by Ronnebaum with two of her own, and Concordia trailed 28-15.
Ronnebaum scored four points in the final seconds of the first half, including a basket as time ran out, to give the Bulldogs a 32-15 cushion.
A 6-0 junior, Ronnebaum tossed in the first four points of the second half to make it 36-15.
Concordia went six minutes without scoring before a basket by Acree made it a 36-17 game.
Baskets by Laney Schaefer and Peschel put Marysville up 40-17.
Reynolds, who led Concordia with nine points, hit one of two free throws, and it was a 40-18 game going into the final period.
The Panthers were unable to cut into that deficit in the fourth quarter.
Reynolds had seven rebounds to go with her nine points.
Acree finished with six points and five rebounds.
Bechard also scored six points.
Peschel joined Ronnebaum in double figures for Marysville with 11 points.
The Panthers return home to host Abilene in a league matchup on Friday night.
Abilene has not played yet this season because of COVID-19 issues.
“That is always helpful. Especially where both of their parents can come. I know that is important for the girls,” Bloomfield said of playing at home.
CONCORDIA (27)
Bechard 2-2-2 6, Acree 2-1-1 6, Conway 2-0-1 4, Reynolds 2-5-4 9, Nordell 1-0-4 2, Rundus 0-3-3 0. Totals: 9-6-15 27.
MARYSVILLE (53)
Peschel 4-3-4 11, Franco 3-1-1 8, Meyer 0-0-1 0, Price 0-0-2 0, Schaeffer 2-1-3 6, Minneman 1-0-0 2, Roever 3-1-1 9, Ronnebaum 7-3-2 17, Dressman 0-0-1 0. Totals: 20-9-15 53.