BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The Great Bend girls enjoyed a surprising 9-2 lead against No. 2 ranked unbeaten Hays High. Alyssa McCauley converted a 3-pointer and fearless Meredith Mazouch, DeShawnna Bryant and Cassie Ellegood added baskets. 

The Panthers had just played their best four minutes of basketball this season.

After starting 1 for 8, the Indians roared to a 34-1 scoring run for a 36-10 lead keyed by 14 free throws and 10 of 16 second quarter shooting. The Indians (13-0, 3-0 WAC) earned a hard-fought 65-39 victory against the Panthers.

Hays standout freshman Jenna Schmeidler led the Indians with 15 points. Katie Linenberger (12) and Molly Martin (11) scored in double figures. The Indians scored multiple baskets off transition, converted 7 of 17 on 3-pointers and added 14 of 16 free throws.

Despite the setback, the Panthers exhibited toughness and confident play against the powerhouse Indians. The Panthers performed with a determined effort.

McCauley scored 14 points. She made 4 of 4 shots from 3-point range and performed with poise and confidence. McCauley doesn't believe in forcing action and prefers to let the game dictate her shot selection.

"I do what I can and shoot when I get the ball. Every time I let go of that ball, I felt it was going in, tonight," McCauley said. "It was a bunch of intensity. We put our confidence and worked together. We did that tonight."

Bryant used her strength and quickness off the drive for five contested baskets. 

"Tonight, I did better with my shooting and the shots started falling," Bryant said. "We did good with rebounding. Hays has big, tall players, but we fought through it. Our blocks on defense are something that happens." 

Great Bend coach Jade Winter was pleased the Panthers played with an underdog tenacity.

"We had nothing to lose. We played basketball like we know how to. We got in their face, put pressure of them and made them work for their points," Winter said. "We got out mindset right and put pressure on Hays. Layups and free throws were a lot of their first-half points."

Bryant keyed a 7-block effort with teammates Cassie Ellegood and Chayla Prendergast that frustrated Hays Indian Katie Linenberger.

"The girls got momentum blocking shots tonight," Winter said. "The girls were doing for it. We played defense as an aggressor tonight."

Hays High 18 24 16 7 — 65

Great Bend 9 6 13 11  — 39

HAYS HIGH (13-0, 3-0) (FG 3 TP)—Schmeidler 6-12 (3-6) 0-0 15, Linenberger 5-12 2-2 12, Martin 4-9 (1-3) 2-2 11, Kenlee Winter (2-4) 1-2 7, Buckles 2-7 2-2 6, Armbruster (1-3) 0-0 3, Dreher 1-1 2-2 4, Kanak 1-1 3-4 5, Zoe Winter 0-4 2-2 2, Humphrey 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0, Totals 27-54 (7-17) 14-16 65

GREAT BEND (4-10, 0-3) (FG 3 FT TP)—McCauley 4-5 (4-4) 2-4 14, Bryant 5-12 2-2 12, Meredith Mazouch 1-4 0-0 2, Ellegood 2-7 (0-1) 1-2 5, Reimer 0-4 (0-1) 0-0 0, Harbaugh 1-1 0-0 2, Siefkes 1-1 0-0 2, Prendergast 1-3 0-2 2, Mayers 0-2 0-0 0, Katherine Mazouch 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 15-41 (4-7) 5-10 39