Lady Cats stay perfect as they roll Coffeyville in final game of 2020

Senior Alyse Moore goes up for two of her 12 points during the Lady Cats’ 60-20 win over Coffeyville-Field Kindley on Thursday in Louisburg.

About 24 hours prior to its final game before the holiday break, the Louisburg girls basketball team had a change in its schedule.

The Lady Cats were scheduled to play Piper, but the Pirates were forced to go into quarantine, which left a hole in Louisburg’s schedule. It didn’t take long to find a replacement and the Lady Cats hosted Coffeyville-Field Kindley.

Louisburg found the perfect way to end the 2020 part of its season. The Lady Cats took care of business as they rolled Field Kindley, 60-20, on Thursday at Louisburg High School and moved to 5-0 on the season.

Not only are the Lady Cats unblemished to start their season, but they are currently ranked No. 7 in the Class 4A poll put out by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association.

“The girls are super excited to be 5-0,” Lane said. “It is a great start, especially with how the season began and us not being able to be together to practice to start the year. I think they have done a great job coming back together after we were quarantined and getting the whole team thing down.”

Louisburg certainly played like a team against Field Kindley as eight different players scored, and even ones who didn’t, contributed in other ways.

Junior Jordan Mynsted came off the bench to lead the Lady Cats in scoring with 22 points and also had a team-high five steals on the defensive end.

Senior Alyse Moore also sparked the Lady Cats with her play on both ends of the floor as she finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals.

“Alyse did awesome,” Lane said. “She will guard anyone that I ask her to, she will bang on them, box out and rebound. She gets on the floor and runs the floor hard. Couldn’t be happier with her.”

Another senior, Madilyn Melton, also scored in double figures with 10 points and had team-high six deflections. Senior Megan Foote had seven points, four deflections and four steals.

Senior Brooklyn Diederich had a team-high five assists and also had two steals.

It was the Lady Cats’ defense that stole the show against Field Kindley as they forced 32 turnovers on the night, which turned into 22 points for Louisburg. The Lady Cats also tallied 23 steals and dominated on the inside.

Louisburg led 14-5 at the end of the first quarter, but went on a 20-2 run before halftime to all but seal the win.

“They did great and I really thought we played as a team, maybe more than any other game so far this season,” Lane said. “Hopefully we will continue to see that as the season goes on – looking for each other up the court, making good passes to the weak side. I thought we did a great job.”

The Lady Cats are now on moratorium until Jan. 5, which means no contact with coaches. Louisburg will get three days to practice before its first game back, which is Jan. 8 against No. 4 Eudora.

Still, Lane believes her team will get the work in on their own so they don’t lose too much of what they have already built.

“I know the girls are going to try and get some shooting in over break on their own and still run to stay in shape,” Lane said. “Hopefully they can do that and work together somehow. It is going to be tricky only having three days of practice before our first game back, but we have done before and maybe this is how this season is going to go. I think we will be fine.

“Starting this way has developed a lot of team unity. We are very proud of them as a coaching staff with the way the girls have been working, especially since we are always throwing new stuff at them. Hopefully we can keep this going after Christmas.”

LOU 14 20 17 9 – 60 

CFK 5 2 9 4 – 20

LOUISBURG (5-0): Jordan Mynsted 9-16 4-4 22; Alyse Moore 6-9 0-3 12; Madilyn Melton 5-8 0-0 10; Megan Foote 3-5 0-0 7; Adyson Ross 1-1 1-2 3; Brianne Kuhlman 1-4 0-0 2; Sierra Hahn 1-2 0-0 2; Emma Prettyman 0-2 2-4 2. Totals: 26-57 7-14 60. 3-point field goals: 1, (Foote)