Unbeaten Wamego topples Panthers

WAMEGO — Capping off a busy week with a road game against undefeated Wamego, the Concordia Panthers got down early and were unable to battle back in suffering a 53-21 North Central Kansas League loss Friday night.
Wamego, ranked second in Class 4A, used its stifling pressure defense to get out to a 16-2 lead in the game.
Concordia could get no closer than 10 points on its way to a third loss in five days.
“I would say the most pressured we have been,” Concordia coach Carly Bloomfield said. “It is 100 percent pressure. They really make you work to even get the ball to halfcourt. Their guards are quick and they count on those turnovers. And they make their layups when they do get those turnovers.”
Falling behind 4-0, Concordia got a basket by Carly Carlgren to make it a 4-2 game.
The Panthers would then go nearly five minutes without scoring.
Wamego, 7-0 overall and 3-0 in league play, scored the next 12 points to go up 16-2.
A jumper by Carlgren and two free throws by Ashley Bartlett got the Panthers within 10 points, 16-6.
Maya Gallagher made two free throws, and Sara Springer hit a three-point shot to give Wamego a 21-6 lead going into the second quarter.
A three by Paige Donnelly early in the second period upped the lead to 24-6.
Concordia, 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the NCKL, scored the next four points, and trailed 24-10.
Ryann Alderson hit a three for Wamego and Taylor McDaniel scored inside for
Concordia, and it was 27-12.
Scoring the final five points of the first half, the Red Raiders led 32-12.
Wamego opened the second half with a 9-0 spurt to go on top, 41-12.
Concordia was able to match the Red Raiders with seven points over the final 2:50 of the third quarter, and trailed 48-19.
The two teams would combine for just five points in the final period.
“With the exception of the fourth quarter, they just kind of got tired, I felt like they played well,” Bloomfield said of the Panthers. “I felt like when you look at the little things, we played really well.”
Carlgren led the way for Concordia with seven points.
Bartlett and McDaniel scored five points each.
Donnelly scored 14 points for Wamego. Trista Hoobler added 11 points.
The Panthers will be on the road again Tuesday night for a league game at Marysville.
Marysville won the first meeting between the two teams, 46-19, in Concordia.

CONCORDIA (21)
DeLeon 1-0-1 2, Carlgren 3-1-3 7, Williams 0-2-0 2, Bartlett 1-3-4 5, McDaniel 2-1-4 5. Totals: 7-7-12 21.
WAMEGO (53)
Donnelly 6-1-2 14, McKee 1-0-1 3, Gallagher 2-5-2 9, Pierson 2-0-1 4, Alderson 3-0-2 7, Meinhardt 0-0-3 0, Hoobler 5-1-3 11, Springer 2-0-0 5, Vestel 0-0-1 0. Totals: 21-7-15 53.