TOPEKA -- McPherson High’s girls had to like their chances at halftime Thursday night in the opening round of the Class 5A State Basketball Tournament.
The Bullpups were down only four to defending champion Bishop Miege, 31-27, even though they shot only 33 percent compared to 63 for Stags.
As expected, Miege cooled off in the second half -- but just to 59 percent. And the Bullpups also cooled off to just 28 percent, as the Stags eventually pulled away to a 62-47 victory.
The loss ended the Bullpups’ bounce-back season at 20-3 and they’ll return the bulk of their team, as Katie Bomberger and the injured Ashley Seely were the only seniors.
This game was all about maturity and strength. Miege 6-4 senior Adrianna Maurer, bound for Nebraska, and powerful 5-10 junior Shandelyn Stewart combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds. They also combined for 15 of 23 from the field in a sterling performance.
“Katelyn (Loecker) and Sarah (Gaeddert) did the best they could,” MHS coach Chris Strathman said. “Sarah was giving up four inches and some strength, and Katelyn was obviously giving up some strength.”
MHS closed out the first quarter on a 9-2 sizz to deadlock the game at 14 and Miege then needed to score the final four points to lead 31-27 at the half. It was an inside job, as Maurer had 13 points and Stewart scored 11, while Casyn Buchman kept MHS afloat with 11.
The Stags switched to their outside game in the second half, as a couple of early 3-pointers pushed them up as many as eight. It was still six going into the fourth quarter, 45-39.
Loecker scored the first basket of the final quarter to pull the Bullpups within four, but it would be their last hurrah. Miege took off on a 12-2 run and put the game away at the foul line.
“We didn’t hit enough shots, obviously, and they were pretty hot,” Strathman said. “We had 20 more attempts than they did and we had fewer turnovers than they did. You look at those types of numbers and you feel like you have a pretty good shot.”
A key, Strathman said, was balance. Miege had four players in double figures, as Alexis Hughes came off the bench to score 12 points and Rosie Youngstrom added 11. Buchman scored 19 for the Bullpups and Loecker added 14, but no other Bullpup had more than five.
“We lost to Aquinas in ‘07 with one senior on the roster and we had everybody coming back and we were able to go on a big run (to the 2008 state title),” Strathman said. “It hurts bad for these girls right now, and it should, because they put a lot into it. But 2011 could be pretty fun.”
Miege plays arch-rival St. Thomas Aquinas in today’s 6:30 p.m. semifinals.
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TOPEKA -- McPherson High’s girls had to like their chances at halftime Thursday night in the opening round of the Class 5A State Basketball Tournament.
The Bullpups were down only four to defending champion Bishop Miege, 31-27, even though they shot only 33 percent compared to 63 for Stags.
As expected, Miege cooled off in the second half -- but just to 59 percent. And the Bullpups also cooled off to just 28 percent, as the Stags eventually pulled away to a 62-47 victory.
The loss ended the Bullpups’ bounce-back season at 20-3 and they’ll return the bulk of their team, as Katie Bomberger and the injured Ashley Seely were the only seniors.
This game was all about maturity and strength. Miege 6-4 senior Adrianna Maurer, bound for Nebraska, and powerful 5-10 junior Shandelyn Stewart combined for 37 points and 20 rebounds. They also combined for 15 of 23 from the field in a sterling performance.
“Katelyn (Loecker) and Sarah (Gaeddert) did the best they could,” MHS coach Chris Strathman said. “Sarah was giving up four inches and some strength, and Katelyn was obviously giving up some strength.”
MHS closed out the first quarter on a 9-2 sizz to deadlock the game at 14 and Miege then needed to score the final four points to lead 31-27 at the half. It was an inside job, as Maurer had 13 points and Stewart scored 11, while Casyn Buchman kept MHS afloat with 11.
The Stags switched to their outside game in the second half, as a couple of early 3-pointers pushed them up as many as eight. It was still six going into the fourth quarter, 45-39.
Loecker scored the first basket of the final quarter to pull the Bullpups within four, but it would be their last hurrah. Miege took off on a 12-2 run and put the game away at the foul line.
“We didn’t hit enough shots, obviously, and they were pretty hot,” Strathman said. “We had 20 more attempts than they did and we had fewer turnovers than they did. You look at those types of numbers and you feel like you have a pretty good shot.”
A key, Strathman said, was balance. Miege had four players in double figures, as Alexis Hughes came off the bench to score 12 points and Rosie Youngstrom added 11. Buchman scored 19 for the Bullpups and Loecker added 14, but no other Bullpup had more than five.
“We lost to Aquinas in ‘07 with one senior on the roster and we had everybody coming back and we were able to go on a big run (to the 2008 state title),” Strathman said. “It hurts bad for these girls right now, and it should, because they put a lot into it. But 2011 could be pretty fun.”
Miege plays arch-rival St. Thomas Aquinas in today’s 6:30 p.m. semifinals.
