We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Turner senior Dakota Krass had a big game Friday night scoring 17 points.
Hays/Lodge Pole junior Alliya Pretty Paint poured in a game high 23 points for the Thunderbirds. It took Overtime but in the end it was Turner that came out victorious, winning the back and forth battle 56-55.
The Turner Tornadoes and the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds renewed their District 9C rivalry in Hays on Friday night. Hays/Lodge Pole won the first meeting and were looking to complete the season sweep. Turner has been playing well and was looking for a split. The crowd in attendance was treated to an action packed overtime test of wills.
The contest was close start to finish with both teams having opportunities to really build some rhythm only to be stymied by the other. Turner led 14-13 after quarter one, 34-24 by halftime. Hays/Lodge Pole rallied in the third quarter making and pulled within one.
Turner led 43-42 entering the fourth quarter setting the stage for a fantastic finish. Pretty Paint started the fourth quarter by putting the finishing touches on a fast break for a 44-43 Thunderbird lead. Reed answered right back for the Thunderbirds with a pair of free throws and the back and forth was just getting started.
Eighth grader Abby Grabofsky made a steal at half court and finished with her left hand for another Turner score. Moments later Reed found eighth grader Natalie Richman inside for another Tornado basket. Thunderbird freshman Kelcie Mount connected on a midrange jumper and moments later freshman Chaynell McConnell buried a straight away three-point bomb off a nice pass from Pretty Paint.
Hays/LP senior Shaunte Hawley drained a long two-point bucket to bring the Thunderbirds within a score. Shambo weaved her way through four defenders hitting a little floater to even the contest at 51-51 with just under two minutes remaining.
Reed responded for the Tornadoes, making great use of a steal in the low post to give Turner a 53-51 lead late. Sophomore Angela Blackcrow cut the lead to one with a free throw with :25.2 on the game clock. The Thunderbirds had possession with :03.2 to go. Hawley got the ball down low and was fouled with 0:0.8 on the clock. Turner called timeout and when she stepped to the line, Hawley evened the score at 53-53 sending the game to overtime.
The extra session featured a lot of nervous energy on the court with both teams struggling to maintain possession or get quality shots off. Sophomore Cassidy Grabofsky broke the scoring drought with a bank three-pointer from the top of the arc to put Turner up 56-53 with 2:04 left in overtime.
Pretty Point kept applying pressure up top and it finally paid off with a steal and a layup to cut the Turner lead back to one, 56-55 with 1:29 remaining. The Tornadoes tried to milk a little clock as time wound down but the time got away from them and were whistled for a shot clock violation.
The Thunderbirds took over with :25 left on the game clock and moved the ball around the perimeter looking for a play inside. After a loose ball scramble, and a jump ball, the Thunderbirds were set to inbound once again, this time with just eight ticks left. Following the inbound and a few frantic passes the ball bounced away and time ran out sealing the Tornadoes 56-55 overtime win over the Thunderbirds.
Turner was led offensively by Krass and Reed who each finished with 17 in the win. Snider added eight for the Tornadoes. Hays Lodge Pole got a huge effort from Pretty Paint with 23 points to lead all scorers. Shambo contributed 12 points to the Thunderbird total.
Saturday the Thunderbirds headed west to take on the Chester/Joplin-Inverness Hawks in a District 9C showdown. With the season winding down every game can affect tournament seeding. Saturday in Chester the Thunderbirds were looking to get off to a fast start, and it did not happen.
Chester/J-I controlled the tempo early on and built a 13-7 lead over the Thunderbirds at the end of the first. Hays/Lodge Pole couldn't get anything going offensively and that opened the door for the Hawks to completely take over the contest.
Chester/J-I closed out the first half with a 25-4 run and lead 37-11 at the half. Hays/Lodge Pole played a much more competitive second half but the damage was already done, leading to a 67-45 loss for the Thunderbirds. Hays/Lodge Pole was led on the night by Pretty Paint's 15 points.
