Lady Panthers lose to Phillipsburg

It wasn’t the kind of homecoming the Concordia Panthers were hoping for.
Playing at home for the first time since a lopsided win over Chapman back on Jan. 13, and coming off a second victory over the Irish on Friday night, the Panthers fell behind early and could never mount a charge in a 52-31 loss to Phillipsburg Tuesday night in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School gymnasium.
Because a game against Hays, scheduled for Feb. 3 was postponed, Concordia had played seven straight games away from home.
The Panthers got down 15-3 to Phillipsburg in the first quarter, and could not catch back up.
“I felt like we had energy at Chapman. Like we had things going our way,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeier said, “We just came out flat. We have to have that energy and effort all of the time.”
Concordia managed just a free throw by Megan James in the first 4:08 of the game as Phillipsburg got out to an 8-1 lead.
Molly Adams picked up Concordia’s first field goal when she scored inside with 3:52 to play in the first period that made it 8-3.
Concordia would not score again in the quarter.
Phillipsburg (12-5) got back to back baskets by Shania Wilkison and Regan Bartels and made three of four free throws to open up a 15-3 advantage.
A layup by Raegan Vanderplas two minutes into the second quarter upped Phillipsburg’s lead to 17-3.
Tiraa Davis knocked down a three for Concordia, but Phillipsburg scored the next five points, and led 22-6.
Davis hit another three to make it a 22-9 game.
Concordia (2-15) got as close as 14 points, 27-13, when Ashlynn Lambert scored with 17 seconds remaining in the first half.
A basket by Bartels with four seconds on the clock put Phillipsburg on top 29-13.
Hampered by turnovers, Concordia was outscored 10-0 in the first 3:07 of the second half, and fell behind 39-13.
“We were just turning the ball over. It is not the defense doing anything,” Wahlmeier said.
Tristen Leiszler connected on a three for Concordia, but Jordan Kellerman answered with a three for Phillipsburg.
Leiszler drained another three, and Concordia trailed 42-19.
Phillipsburg scored the next four points before a follow by Leyli Beims with one second left in the period made it 46-21.
The two teams traded baskets to start the fourth quarter, and Concordia then scored seven unanswered points, five from the free throw line, to get within 18 points, 48-30.
Concordia managed just one point over the  final 3:28.
Leiszler led Concordia with nine points.
Beims scored eight points and Davis added six.
Phillipsburg had nine players score in the game led by Kellerman, Bartels and Mattison Dusin with nine points each.
Concordia hosts Wamego in a North Central Kansas League game on Friday and Hays in a makeup game on Saturday that will start at 3:15 p.m.

PHILLIPSBURG (52)
Kellerman 4-0-2 9, Wilkison 3-0-0 6, Vanderplas 1-4-1 6, Frantz 3-0-1 6, Gower 1-0-1 2, Orr 1-1-2 3, Christensen 0-0-1 0, Bartels 4-1-3 9, Dusin 1-7-1 9, Keeten 1-0-1 2, Rodriguez 0-0-2 0. Totals: 19-13-15 52.
CONCORDIA (31)
K. Lambert 0-0-3 0, Davis 20-0 6, Blankenbeckley 0-0-1 0, Metro 0-0-1 0, Adams 1-0-2 2, A. Lambert 1-0-3 2, Beims 4-0-2 8, Leiszler 2-3-1 9, James 0-4-1 4. Totals: 10-7-14 31.

• CHS advances to regional final - May. 17, 2012
• Panthers headed for state tournament - May. 17, 2012
• Panther baseball team headed for semifinals - May. 15, 2012
• Two CHS golfers qualify for state tournament - May. 15, 2012
• Panthers lose in first round of regionals - May. 15, 2012
• Both CHS teams second in NCKL meet - May. 14, 2012