Trojans pull away from Panthers, 59-50
Heading into the season opener, Concordia High School girls’ basketball coach said that one of the Beloit players he remembered from last season was Sydney Barrett.
Barrett once again made a lasting impression on Wahlmeier.
With the game tied at 38-38, Barrett, a 5-7 senior, tossed in 18 points as Beloit outscored Concordia 21-12 over the final 7:30 of the game to capture a 59-50 victory Friday night in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School gymnasium.
Barrett, who finished the game with 31 points, made one of two free throws to pull Beloit even with Concordia, 38-38, in the final seconds of the third quarter.
The Panthers had a chance to reclaim the lead, but sophomore Chloe Conway was unable to connect on either of two free throws seven seconds into the final period.
Barrett then took over the game. She scored 10 straight points to put Beloit on top 48-38.
“It was a letdown on defense,” Wahlmeier said, “When we had a break down they took advantage. They did a nice job. They made us pay for it.”
Conway hit one of two free throws, Kendall Reynolds scored inside and Emma Wahlmeier went one of two from the line to pull the Panthers back within six points, 48-42, with just under four minutes to play.
Two free throws by Barrett gave the Trojans a 50-42 cushion with 3:38 on the clock.
Katlynn Miller knocked down a three, Concordia got a defensive stop, and Reynolds scored again to close the gap to 50-47.
The Panthers would come up with a steal, but misfired on two shot attempts to get within a point.
“I think it shows the competitive nature of these girls. They are going to go out and fight,” Wahlmeier said.
Shea Larson, who scored 17 points for Beloit, made one of two free throws to make it a 51-47 game with 2:20 remaining.
After a pair of missed free throws by Concordia, Larson scored inside.
The Panthers missed on two more free throw attempts, and Barrett made two to stretch the lead to 55-47 with 1:02 left.
“We have got to knock those down and keep attacking the basket,” Wahlmeier said of the missed free throws.
Miller knocked down a three to pull the Panthers within five points, 55-50.
Barrett connected on four straight free throws to secure the win for the Trojans.
Miller, who knocked down six three-point shots, led the way for Concordia with 24 points.
Reynolds added 11 points, and also had five rebounds and two steals, for the Panthers.
Concordia hit just 7 of 20 free throw attempts in the game while Beloit went 23 of 33.
The Trojans got out to a 5-0 lead in the game, but the Panthers used an 11-4 spurt to go up 11-9.
The game was tied at 11-11 heading the second quarter.
Six straight points put Beloit up 17-11.
Two threes by Miller and one each by Ciara Kearn and Zoe Bechard sparked a 16-4 run that gave Concordia the lead back at 27-21.
Beloit would battle back to within a point, 27-26.
Reynolds made one of two free throws with 2.6 seconds to play in the first half, and the Panthers led 28-26.
There would be four lead changes in the third quarter, with neither team leading by more than four points.
The game was knotted at 38-38 heading into the final stanza.
Beloit then used the big run to go on top to stay.
Concordia will host Republic County on Tuesday night.
BELOIT (59)
Wagner 0-1-1 1, Boeve 1-0-2 2, Schroeder 1-3-4 5, Eilert 0-0-2 0, Hewitt 0-0-1 0, Larson 8-1-4 17, Ehlers 0-0-2 0, Cooper 0-3-4 3, Barrett 8-15-2 31. Totals: 18-23-22 59.
CONCORDIA (50)
Bechard 2-0-5 4, E. Wahlmeier 0-1-5 1, Conway 1-1-2 3, Reynolds 5-1-4 11, K. Wahlmeier 0-0-2 0, Kearn 1-0-1 3, Rundus 1-1-2 3, Miller 8-3-5 24. Totals: 18-7-26 50.