Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text
  • Article Image Alt Text

T-Birds escape with 72-70 victory over Bethany JV

Stuck in between a trip to Iowa Western Community College last Saturday and a game against second-ranked South Plains College on Friday, the Cloud County Thunderbirds got a tougher than expected battle from the Bethany College junior varsity.
Cloud County (4-3) had to rally from 10 points down late in the third quarter, and make some crucial plays in the final seconds to escape with a 72-70 victory over the Swedes Monday night in Bryant Gymnasium.
“It's good to win, and I'm glad we won, as we did not play well tonight,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said.
Cloud County, which struggled but led Bethany 35-31 at halftime, was outscored 24-10 over the first 7:15 of the third quarter, and trailed 55-45.
A follow by Jacy Dalinghaus, two free throws by Lydia Ostenson and a layup following a steal by Jasmina Jones in a span of 1:01 got the T-Birds within four points, 55-51, heading into the fourth quarter.
Dalinghaus, a freshman, poured in 40 points in the game. She was 18 of 30 from the field and three of four from the free throw line and also had 11 rebounds and four steals.
“Jacy Dalinghaus went for 40 points and we needed every one of them as we didn't get a whole lot of production from the rest of our team,” Erkenbrack said.
There were seven lead changes and four ties through the first eight minutes of the final period.
Bethany went up 68-67 on a basket by Vasha Moore with 2:35 remaining in the game.
Moore led the Swedes with 18 points and nine rebounds.
A layup by Taryn Kunh off a Cloud County turnover gave Bethany a 70-67 cushion with 1:34 on the clock.
Dalinghaus scored 10 seconds later to pull the T-Birds within a point.
The next four offensive possessions would result in two turnovers by each team.
Following a Bethany turnover, Dalinghaus grabbed an offensive rebound off a missed shot by LaKya Leslie and scored to put Cloud County up 71-70 with 15 seconds to play.
Leslie then came up with a steal, and Ostenson was fouled with six seconds left.
Ostenson went one of two from the line to give the T-Birds a 72-70 advantage.
Meghan Goff came up short on an attempted game winner for Bethany as time ran out.
“I'm disappointed with our defensive effort for most of the night, but Jasmina Jones gave us a lift in the second half with a couple of steals and LaKya Leslie got her hands on the ball which allowed us to get the steal to set up the game-winning possession which was good,” Erkenbrack said, “At the end of the day it's always good to win, but we need to get better and hopefully we will as we move forward.”
Dalinghaus was the only T-Bird to score in double figures.
Jones and Maeson Dewey scored seven points each.
Kunh tossed in 15 points for Bethany. Megan Bartel scored 11 points and Goff added 10.
With Cloud County missing its first eight shots from the field, Bethany got out to a 9-1 lead in the game.
The T-Birds would battle back to within one point, 17-16, after one quarter of play.
Trailing 19-17 in the second period, the T-Birds scored 13 straight points, nine by Dalinghaus, to go on top, 30-19.
A 12-3 spurt pulled the Swedes back within two points, 33-31.
Jones made a layup in the final seconds of the first half to give Cloud County a 35-31 lead.
With the T-Birds struggling on both ends of the floor over the first seven minutes of the third quarter, Bethany built the 10-point lead.
Cloud County would mount a charge in the final quarter to pull out the win.
The T-Birds host South Plains College (6-0) at 6 p.m. Friday.

 

Concordia Blade-Empire

510 Washington St.
Concordia, KS 66901