Panthers dominate OT in 43-36 win over Abilene

Scoring the final nine points of overtime, the Concordia High School girls’ basketball team bounced back from two straight losses to defeat Abilene, 43-36, in a North Central Kansas League matchup Friday night in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School gymnasium.
Concordia’s Kendall Reynolds was unable to knock down a shot at the end of regulation, and the game went into overtime tied at 34-34.
A basket by Joy Clemence gave Abilene a 36-34 lead early in the extra period.
The Cowgirls would not score again.
Senior Terin Rundus banked in a three-point shot to put Concordia on top to stay, 37-36, with 3:05 remaining in the game.
Reynolds blocked an Abilene shot, and came up with the ball.
Two free throws by Reynolds gave the Panthers a 39-36 advantage with 1:33 remaining.
Following an Abilene turnover, Reynolds was fouled again. She again connected on both attempts to put Concordia up 41-36.
The Panthers would get a defensive stop, and Rundus secured the win by connecting on two more free throws.
“They only scored two points in overtime, so I thought we did a good job of getting defensive stops,” Concordia interim coach Carly Bloomfield said. “I think our confidence increased during the game, and when we got to overtime we talked about how losing wasn’t an option. I felt the girls were determined to get the W, and free throws was a part of that.”
Concordia heads into the winter break at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in league play.
Abilene, which was playing just its second game, because of COVID-19 issues, falls to 0-2.
An 8-0 spurt in the first quarter would give Concordia a lead it would hold onto until the final period.
Trailing 27-23, the Cowgirls got a bucket by Jenna Hayes and a three-point shot by Clemence to go up 28-27 with 5:00 to play in regulation.
There would be three lead changes over the next two minutes.
A jumper by Rundus gave Concordia a 32-20 advantage.
Rundus led all scorers with 15 points.
“We need her to do that,” Bloomfield said of Rundus stepping up and knocking down some perimeter shots. “I thought she did good job. She stepped up when she needed to.”
Hayes scored for Abilene to tie the game at 32-32.
Two free throws by Zoe Bechard put Concordia up 34-32 with 38 seconds on the clock.
Hayes made two free throws just 14 seconds later to make it 34-34.
The Panthers got the last shot in regulation, but Reynolds was unable to connect.
Getting the three by Rundus, and then hitting six straight free throws, the Panthers were able to pick up the win.
“I think it gives us a lot of confidence. It gives us some motivation,” Bloomfield said. “When we come back hopefully we can pick up where we left off.”
Bechard and Chloe Conway scored nine points each for Concordia. Reynolds added six points.
Hayes paced Abilene with 13 points.
Trailing 5-4 in the early going, the Panthers scored eight straight points to take a 12-5 lead.
Abi Lillard scored for the Cowgirls, but Bechard answered with a three to give Concordia a 15-7 cushion going into the second quarter.
The Panthers cooled off in the second stanza scoring just four points.
Abilene would manage just five points, and trailed 19-12 at halftime.
Scoring the final five points of the third quarter, the Cowgirls would close the gap to 25-23.
Conway scored the first two points of the fourth period to make it 27-23.
Abilene tossed in five straight points to take its first lead since the opening minutes, 28-27.
The two teams would then go back and forth over the final 5:30 of regulation before Concordia was able to pull away in overtime.
The Panthers will return to action on January 8 with a league game at Wamego.

ABILENE (36)
Ditto 1-0-2 2, Lillard 4-1-1 9, Hayes 5-3-5 13, Liby 0-0-3 0, Stout 1-0-2 3, Dannefer 2-0-2 4, Clemence 2-0-2 5. Totals: 15-4-15 36.
CONCORDIA (43)
Bechard 3-2-3 9, Acree 0-0-1 0, Conway 4-1-3 9, Reynolds 1-4-3 6, Nordell 2-0-4 4, Rundus 6-2-0 13. Totals: 16-9-14 43.