Fast start leads to road win for Lady Cats in season opener

Louisburg junior Emma Prettyman goes up for two of her 10 points Friday at Tonganoxie High School during the Lady Cats’ 36-27 win.

TONGANOXIE — The Louisburg girls basketball team couldn’t have asked for a better start to its season Friday at Tonganoxie.

The Lady Cats scored 13 straight points to begin the game, and held the Chieftains scoreless in the first quarter, as they won 36-27 to get their season started off on the right foot.

“The girls were super excited on Friday to play our first game, and we were we glad to get our first win,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane. “I do not think the girls were nervous, but they were very excited and so glad to be back on the court together.”

Louisburg was able to control the game inside as forwards Jordan Mynsted and Emma Prettyman recorded a bulk of the Lady Cats’ points in the paint.

Mynsted scored a team-high 11 points and pulled down eight rebounds, while Prettyman had 10 and eight rebounds. Mynsted also finished with four steals and two blocks.

“Jordan and Emma did a great job finishing on the inside, rebounding, and making their put backs,” Lane said. “They both have been working super hard and I think their efforts showed on Friday.”

The Lady Cats also controlled the game on the defensive end as well. Louisburg forced 25 Tonganoxie turnovers and scored 14 points off those Chieftain mistakes.

Junior Brianne Kuhlman led Louisburg with five steals on the night, while juniors Emma Lohse, Adyson Ross and Ava Baker each had two steals. Baker also had a pair of blocked shots.

“Our defense was tough,” Lane said. “Any time we can hold a team to under 30 points shows how tough we are on defense. We started off very intense on the defensive end, we were in the correct spots and we rotated great when we helped and we finished with blocking out. The girls did a great job.”

There were still aspects that Lane would like to see her team get ironed out, especially the offensive side of the ball where the Lady Cats shot just 27 percent for the game.

Still, she knows that will only get better and hopes it starts tonight when the Lady Cats travel to Burlington for a 6 p.m. tip.

“I think the biggest thing we need to work on after our first game is shot selection and having patience on offense,” Lane said. “If we can have more patience, I think we will not be as rushed on offense and in return score more points.”

LOU 13 8 10 5 — 36

TONG 0 9 11 7 — 27

LOUISBURG (1-0): Jordan Mynsted 5-15 2-2 11; Emma Prettyman 4-9 2-2 10; Adyson Ross 2-12 1-2 5; Delaney Wright 1-10 0-0 3; Emma Lohse 1-3 0-0 2; Brianne Kuhlman 1-8 0-0 2; Sierra Hahn 1-1 0-0 2; Delanie Tally 0-3 1-2 1. Totals: 14-51 6-8 36. 3-point field goals: 2, (Mynsted, Wright)