Panthers can't stay with eighth ranked Hays

What had already been a difficult week didn’t get any easier for the Concordia Panthers on Saturday afternoon.
Coming off losses to a Phillipsburg team that was 12-4 going into the game on Tuesday night and a Wamego team that was unbeaten in the North Central Kansas League on Friday night, the Panthers were matched up with a Hays team that is ranked eighth in Class 5A in a makeup game on Saturday.
Hays used a 13-0 run in the first quarter to take control of the game, and went on to defeat Concordia 66-25 in the Concordia Junior-Senior High School gymnasium.
“We knew it was going to be a challenge,” Concordia coach Michael Wahlmeier said of the tough stretch of games, “I was pleased with the girls’ effort. Even being the third game, they played hard.”
After falling behind 4-2, Concordia tied the game at 4-4 when Tristen Leiszler scored on a drive with 6:00 remaining in the first quarter.
Struggling against the Hays’ full-court pressure, the Panthers would go nearly 5:30 without scoring.
Hays, now 13-4, put together the 13-0 spurt to go up 17-4.
Two free throws by Megan James with 39 seconds to play in the first period made it a 17-6 game.
James then scored 29 seconds into the second quarter to close the gap to 17-8.
Emily Braun answered with a basket to put the Indians on top 19-8.
James connected on one of two free throws, and Concordia trailed just 19-9 with 6:10 to play in the first half.
Hays reeled off 13 points in just over three minutes to open up a 32-9 advantage.
James halted the run by scoring on a drive.
Two free throws by Paige Lunsford and a follow by Braun put Hays up 36-11.
James drove to the basket and scored to make it 36-13 at halftime. She scored all of her team high nine points in the first half.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half, and Hays scored nine straight points to build a 47-15 cushion.
“Right after halftime, we came out and gave them some easy baskets,” Wahlmeier said.
The Indians led 55-19 at the end of the third quarter, and scored the first eight points of the fourth to go up 63-19.
Concordia, playing a second straight game without leading scorer Leyli Beims who is out with a knee injury, tossed in six straight points to make it 63-25.
“We ran some stuff and scored off of it. They are doing the things we are asking them to do. We just need to be more consistent, shoot the ball better and not turn it over,” Wahlmeier said.
Sidney Schmeidler hit a three for Hays to make the final 66-25.
Molly Adams scored seven points for Concordia, and Leiszler finished with five.
Taylor Herman led a balanced Hays attack with 12 points.
Lunsford and Braun chipped in 10 points each.
Concordia will finish up the regular season with a league game at Clay Center on Tuesday night.

HAYS (66)
Lunsford 3-4-0 10, Gagnon 4-1-1 9, Herman 4-4-3 12, Pfannenstiel 3-0-1 6, Johnson 0-0-2 0, Gulley 3-0-0 7, Weith 0-0-1 0, Braun 5-0-2 10, Schumacher 4-1-3 9, Schmeidler 1-0-0 2. Totals: 27-10-13 66.
CONCORDIA (25)
K. Lambert 0-0-1 0, Gumm 0-0-2 0, Davis 0-0-3 0, Monzon 1-2-0 4, Blankenbeckley 0-0-2 0, Adams 1-5-3 7, A. Lambert 1-0-2 2, Leiszler 2-0-0 5, James 3-3-1 9. Totals: 8-10-14 25.

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