Perfection: Seventh-graders finish undefeated
Members of the Louisburg Middle School seventh-grade varsity and junior varsity basketball team are (front row, from left) Alyse Moore, Madison Quinn, Megan Foote, Aiyana Penca, Shealynn O’Hara, Madilyn Melton, Carleigh Pritchard, Aly Traffis, Shelby Keenan, Kylee Leach; (back row) manager Emaley Boothe, Skyla Meyer, Jenna Terry, Callie O’Brien, Brooklyn Diederich, Brenna Oshel, Nora Van Asten, Maggie Ming, manager Nicole Schwab and manager Eleanor Willming.
As the Louisburg Middle School seventh-grade girls basketball team walked off the floor for the final time last month, the Lady Cats had the same feeling they had after every contest.
A winning one.
Louisburg completed what was a special season on Dec. 12 when it faced off with Baldwin and Eudora in a triangular to end the season. The Lady Cats ended with blowout wins over both teams, and even better, wrapped up what was a perfect year.
The Lady Cats finished the season with a 16-0 record and tore through Frontier League opponents as all of their victories were by double digits.
“It was a great season,” coach Suzanne Reedy said. “I am so proud of these girls and their commitment to teamwork. The varsity group earned an undefeated basketball in the trophy case with their names on it. They are so excited.”
Louisburg had several girls contribute to their success as different players stepped up every game.
The Lady Cats ended their year with a 35-6 blowout of Eudora on Dec. 12 and they got a big game from forward Madilyn Melton as she finished with 14 points. Alyse Moore just missed double figures with eight points.
Earlier in the day, Louisburg dispatched Baldwin 31-12 and again Melton came up big for Louisburg as she scored 14 points to lead the way.
Louisburg had one of its largest margins of victory on the season against Wheatridge on Dec. 10. The Lady Cats easily pulled away for a 54-10 win.
Megan Foote outscored the entire Wheatridge team by herself as she had a game-high 12 points and forward Shealynn O’Hara was next with eight points.
The Lady Cats also had no problem with rival Paola on Dec. 8 when they played in their final home contest of the season. Louisburg treated its fans to a 36-19 win.
Foote led all scorers with 12 points and Brooklyn Diederich also finished in double figures with 10 points. Moore added six points in the win.
Playing for the Lady Cat varsity team this season were Madilyn Melton, Jenna Terry, Megan Foote, Alyse Moore, Brooklyn Diederich, Shealynn O’Hara, Aly Traffis, Madison Quinn, Maggie Ming, Carleigh Pritchard and Ali Prettyman.
JV team finishes strong
The LMS seventh-grade junior varsity team also had a good finish to its season as it won its final three games to end the year with a 12-4 record.
On Dec. 12, the Lady Cats played Eudora to end its season and came away with a close 14-11 victory. Carleigh Pritchard and Aiyana Penca each led Louisburg with four points.
Earlier in the day, Louisburg began its triangular with a game against Baldwin and came away with an easy 21-3 win. Ali Prettyman led all scorers with 10 points.
Louisburg also didn’t have much of a problem against Wheatridge on Dec. 10. The Lady Cats rolled to a 42-17 win behind 13 points from Pritchard.
In the Lady Cats’ final home contest on Dec. 8, they lost a tough game to Paola, 18-17. Prettyman led Louisburg with eight points in the loss.
Playing for the junior varsity team this season were Carleigh Pritchard, Shelby Keenan, Madison Quinn, Callie O’Brien, Ali Prettyman, Nora Van Asten, Aiyana Penca, Brenna Oshel and Skyla Meyer.