Big Fourth Quarter Outburst Helps Concordia Girls Score Season Sweep of Abilene

The Concordia High School Girls Basketball team outscored the Abilene Cowgirls by ten points in the final eight minutes, breaking free from a tightly-played contest to top Abilene 49-37 in North Central Kansas League play on Tuesday, February 6th.  The Panthers picked up the season sweep of Abilene and have improved to 7-7 overall and 3-2 in league action.

Sophomore Charlize Cash led the Panthers with 17 points on 5-of-11 field goals and 5-of-5 free-throws.  Cash added 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals and was named our Nex-Tech Wireless MVP of the Game.

Senior Carlie Carlgren, Junior Taylor McDaniel and Sophomore Rylie Jessup each added 6 points.  Freshman Jaylin Roush and Junior Kinsleigh Bethune both posted 5 points, while Junior Kenlee Williams added 4 points.

The game featured 7 lead changes and 7 ties with neither team leading by more than five points through the first three quarters.  The Panthers held a slim 28-26 advantage entering the fourth quarter.  Concordia forced Abilene into eight second-half turnovers and outscored the Cowgirls 21-11 in the fourth to pick up their first win in their last three games.

The Panthers finished 18-of-37 (48.6 percent) from the field, including 5-of-10 (50.0 percent) from three-point range.  Cash and Jessup each had a pair of threes.  Bethune knocked down a fourth quarter trey and went 2-of-2 from the free-throw line in the closing minutes, receiving our H&R Block of the Game.

Senior Center Claira Dannefer paced Abilene with 16 points.  Senior Guard Hannah Walter was in double-figures with 10 points.

Concordia will play at home for the first time since December 15th when they host the Chapman Irish in a North Central Kansas League showdown on Friday, February 9th.  The Irish, under the direction of former Concordia Coach Mike Wahlmeier, upset the Wamego Red Raiders, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, 45-33 on Tuesday to move to 6-9 on the season.  Tip-off to Friday's game is scheduled for 6 pm.  Live coverage of the game can be heard on 1390 KNCK, 98.3 FM and NCKToday.com.