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Panthers fall to Cowgirls, 36-32

For nearly three quarters, the Concordia Panthers were able to fend off the Abilene Cowgirls.
But once Abilene was able to wrestle the lead away, the Panthers were unable to get it back in suffering a 36-32 North Central Kansas League loss Friday night in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School gymnasium.
Concordia went on top of Abilene late in the first quarter, and would hold onto the lead until there was just under five minutes remaining in the game.
Abilene used an 8-0 run to turn a 28-24 deficit into a 32-28 advantage.
The Panthers, going better than 13 minutes without a field goal, were unable to reclaim the lead.
“The turnover bug let them back in it, and then we just couldn’t get anything going offensive after that,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeier said.
Concordia, which was coming off its first win of the season over Marysville on Tuesday, falls to 1-3 overall and 1-1 in league play heading into the holiday break.
Clinging to a 16-14 lead at halftime, the Panthers opened the third quarter with a short bank shot by Jaden Wilson, a three-point basket by Kendall Reynolds and then straight points by Terin Rundus to go up 24-14.
Concordia would not score from the field over the final 5:02 of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter.
“It seemed like forever,” Wahlmeier said of the field goal drought, “It seemed like we were just shooting ourselves in the foot. We know we have got to clean that up.”
Abilene (2-2) would go 5:34 of the second half without scoring before a basket by Abi Lillard with 2:26 remaining made it 24-16.
Aided by Concordia turnovers, the Cowgirls put together a 10-1 run to get within a point, 25-24, heading into the fourth quarter.
Reynolds, who finished 8 of 12 from the free throw line in leading Concordia with 13 points, made three of four charity tosses the first 1:35 of the final period that made it a 28-24 game.
Abilene had Beth Holmes toss in six straight points and Lillard scored off an offensive rebound to take a 32-28 lead.
Two free throws by Reynolds closed the gap to 32-30.
Lillard scored inside and Jenna Hayes hit two free throws to give the Cowgirls a 36-30 cushion with 1:12 on the clock.
Two more free throws by Reynolds pulled Concordia within four points, 36-32, with 35 seconds remaining.
Abilene turned the ball over 16 seconds later.
Concordia would misfire on a pair of field goal attempts as time expired.
Reynolds led the way for Concordia with 13 points. She also had seven rebounds.
Zoe Bechard added 11 points.
Holmes scored 14 points for Abilene. Hayes chipped in 11 points.
After falling behind 3-1 early, Concordia would hold Abilene scoreless the final 5:53 of the first quarter, and scored 10  points to go on top 11-3.
A three by Bechard early in the second quarter gave the Panthers a 14-3 advantage.
Concordia would score just two points the final 5:31 of the half.
Abilene battled back to make it 16-14 on a jumper as time expired in the second quarter.
The Panthers then scored the first eight points of the second half to push the lead to 24-14, but then went cold from the field.
Concordia is now off until a home game against Wamego on January 7.
“We have some sickness. We have some people battling illness. So hopefully we can get well and get healthy and get ready for the long stretch after break,” Wahlmeier said.

 

Concordia Blade-Empire

510 Washington St.
Concordia, KS 66901