BY BUDDY TABLER
Special to the Tribune
LARNED — Larned's Cassidy Wachs scored a career high 14 points and Jadyn Crosby added 13 points to fuel the Indians' 53-31 Central Kansas League basketball victory over Hoisington.
Larned ended a multiple-games shooting slump with 50% shooting to outscore Hoisington 28-9 after halftime. Taeten Reynolds scored eight and Brooke Simmons and Lauren Sleder added six each.
“Finally, we started hitting shots," said Larned coach Jerrod Smith said. "We ran our offense better, but you do everything better when your shots are falling. We rebounded well. Our defense was solid. I'm happy for our girls.”
Larned (10-9, 3-4 CKL) plays Smoky Valley (6-13, 2-5 CKL) Tuesday at home. The Indians travel to Russell Feb. 27 for 3A substate action.
Marley Bittel led Hoisington with 10 points and a pair of 3-pointers. The Cardinals (6-13, 1-6 CKL) play at Holcomb (15-5) in 3A substate play Feb. 27.
Larned’s pressing defense forced Hoisington into 26 turnovers, nine in the pivotal third quarter. Hoisington made 10 of 34 field goals (29%) and converted 6 of 8 free throws. Marley Bittel scored 10 points. Tianna Lutters and Ellie Crawford each scored five.
Larned made 22 of 44 field goals (50%). Larned committed 18 turnovers, six after halftime when the game was decided.
Larned had suffered poor-shooting in their last 11 outings but buried that demon against Hoisington.
The two teams battled to a Hoisington first-quarter lead of 11-9 but Larned grabbed the momentum in the second quarter and led 25-22 at halftime. Larned gave up four points on a technical foul and basket before halftime when it had six players on the floor.
Larned outscored Hoisington 18-4 in the third quarter to take command. Larned forced nine third-quarter Cardinal turnovers that contributed Larned controlling the game 43-26.
Hoisington 11 11 4 5 — 31
Larned 9 16 18 10 — 53
HOISINGTON (6-13, 1-6) (FG 3 FT TP)—Bittel (2) 4-4 10, Lutters 2 (1) 0-0 5, Crawford 2 (1) 0-0 5, Hanzlick 2 0-0 4, Tarlton 1 1-2 3, Maier 1 0-0 2, Aylward 0 0-2 0, Totals 10-34 (4) 7-10 31
LARNED (10-9, 3-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Wachs 6 (2) 0-0 14, Crosby 6 (1) 0-0 13, Reynolds 3 (1) 1-3 8, Brooke Simmons (2) 0-0 6, Sleder 2 91) 1-2 6, Lemuz 1 0-2 2, Upson 1 0-0 2, Wilson 1 0-0 2, Totals 22-44 (7) 2-7 53
HOISINGTON 60, LARNED 43 — Red-hot Mason Martin scored 16 points and bombed home a trio of 3-pointers from long distance and Rhen Galla added 16 points to help Hoisington race past Larned 60-43 in Friday's Central Kansas League basketball game.
Hoisington made 21 of 45 field goals (45%) and converted 10 of 17 free throw attempts. Kamden Tarlton added eight. Hoisington (10-9, 3-4 CKL) will play at Southwestern Heights (10-9) Feb. 28 in 3A substate action.
Larned made 19 of 39 field goals (48%) but were outscored 10-0 at the free throw line.
Larned's Carter Crosby scored 10 points. Deacon Martin added seven and Carson Shaver, Andres Martinez and Kylier Greene six apiece.
Late in the first quarter Hoisington broke open a tight, back-and-forth contest with a 12-4 run to grab an 18-12 first quarter lead and then went on to down Larned 60-43 here Friday night in a Central Kansas League game.
Crisp Cardinal passing and some stellar 3-point shooting enabled the Cardinals to increase their lead to 34-24 at halftime and although Larned several got the deficit into single digits in the second half, they could never eliminate the margin.
As the halftime buzzer was ready to sound, Hoisington’s Galla drove a stake in Larned’s heart with an off-balance 3-pointer from 10 feet beyond the 3-point line for a 34-24 lead.
"Boy, that shot by Galla hurt," said Larned coach Luke Steinlage. "We played good defense to get the margin to seven points and he buries that shot with two guys on him. That was big!”
Larned trailed 45-37 after three quarters. Hoisington did an excellent job of rebounding and shooting to pull away for the 17-point victory. Larned made three fourth quarter shots on a night where it generally shot the ball well.
Larned (6-13, 1-6 CKL) plays Smoky Valley (4-15, 2-5 CKL) at home Tuesday. The Indians travel to Holcomb (16-4) Feb. 28 in 3A substate action.
Hoisington 18 16 11 15 — 60
Larned 12 12 13 6 — 43
HOISINGTON (10-9, 3-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Galla 6 (3) 1-2 16, Mason Martin 4 (3) 5-9 16, Tarlton 3 (1) 1-2 8, Thompson 2 1-2 5, Ingram 1 2-2 4, Merlau 2 0-0 4, Cason Mason (1) 0-0 3, Robinson 1 0-0 2, Kinman 1 0-0 2, Totals 21-45 (8) 10-17 60
LARNED (6-13, 1-6) (FG 3 FT TP)—Crosby 5 0-1 10, Deacon Martin 3 (1) 0-0 7, Shaver 3 0-2 6, Martinez (2) 0-0 6, Greene 3 0-0 6, Regan 2 (1) 0-0 5, Gonzalez (1) 0-0 3, Totals 19-39 (5) 0-3 43
