Smoky Valley posts 56-27 win over Concordia girls

LINDSBORG — Matching up against a Smoky Valley team averaging 55 points per game in opening the season 2-0, the Concordia Panthers were unable to keep pace.
Jumping out to a 9-0 lead in the first 2:11 of the game, Smoky Valley went wire-to-wire in defeating the Concordia girls 56-27 on Friday night. Concordia, falling in its first road game of the season, is now 1-1 after knocking off Republic County in a home game last Friday night.
Smoky Valley improved to 3-0 and has an average winning margin of 18 points.
Struggling against the Smoky Valley full-court pressure, the Panthers turned the ball over on its first six offensive possessions of the game.
Ellie Brumbaugh knocked down two three-point shots to spark the Vikings to the quick 9-0 cushion.
Concordia would score its first points when senior Kendall Reynolds was fouled on a three-point attempt 3:01 into the game. Reynolds connected on all three free throws to make it a 9-3 game.
The two teams would trade baskets, and Smoky Valley led 11-5.
Brumbaugh, who led all scorers with 17 points, connected on her third three of the first quarter. Adrian Hazelwood scored four straight points, and the Vikings led 18-5.
Senior guard Zoe Bechard, who led Concordia with eights points, made one of two free throws to end a scoring drought of 4:02, and it was an 18-6 game going into the second period.
Smoky Valley scored the first six points of the quarter to extend the lead to 24-6.
A jumper by Bechard made it a 24-8 game.
Brumbaugh answered with a three to put the Vikings up 27-8.
Baskets by Chloe Conway and Reynolds closed the gap to 27-12.
Kerington Haxton drilled a three for Smoky Valley.
The Panthers got two free throws by Terin Rundus. The Vikings scored the final four points of the first half to go on top, 34-14.
After Hazelwood scored for Smoky Valley early in the second half, Bechard hit a jumper for Concordia. The Panthers would then go 4:32 without scoring.
Getting five points from Hazelwood, the Vikings tossed in 13 unanswered points to make it a 49-16 game.
Conway scored four points over the final 2:23 of the third quarter, to three points for the Vikings, and the Panthers were down 52-20.
With a running clock in the final period, the Panthers outscored Smoky Valley, 7-4.
Reynolds scored seven points for Concordia. Conway finished with six points and nine rebounds.
Hazelwood joined Brumbaugh in double figures for the Vikings with 13 points.
Concordia will open North Central Kansas League play with a road game at Marysville on Tuesday night.

CONCORDIA (27)
Bechard 3-1-0 8, Acree 0-0-4 0, Conway 2-2-2 6, Reynolds 2-3-3 7, Rundus 1-2-4 4, Bartlett 1-0-0 2, Carlgren 0-0-1 0. Totals; 8-8-14 27.
SMOKY VALLEY (56)
Johnson 3-2-2 8, Brumbaugh 5-3-1 17, Priddy 3-1-4 7, Lambert 0-0-1 0, Vanderwege 0-0-1 0, Haxton 3-0-2 7, Mullen 10-1 2, Rose 0-0-1 0, Hazelwood 5-2-3 13, Broxterman  10-2 2, Scott 0-0-1 0. Totals: 20-8-19