Second half rally sparks Lady Cats’ win over rival Paola

The Louisburg bench was all smiles after senior Sierra Hahn knocked down her first 3-pointer of the season Tuesday against Paola. The Lady Cats used to a big second half to get a 48-44 win over the Panthers.

It wasn’t exactly the start the Louisburg girls basketball team envisioned prior to Tuesday’s matchup with Paola.

The Panthers jumped out to a double-digit lead to start the game and the Lady Cats quickly found themselves in a hole.

However, the finish was just what Louisburg was hoping for.

After Paola scored 19 first quarter points, the Lady Cats held the Panthers to just 25 points the rest of the game. Louisburg knocked down free throws in the final minutes and held on of a 48-44 comeback victory over its rival.

“This was a big win for our program,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “I felt like we played well as a team and the girls played great the second half. They came out after halftime and battled to come back and win.”

Louisburg (6-7) had to overcome the hot start of Kate Ediger. The Paola senior scored the team’s first 10 points and had the Lady Cats down 10-1 in the first couple minutes of the game.

From then on, Louisburg held Ediger to just five points the rest of the way thanks in part to the defense of junior Adyson Ross.

“I was very proud of the girls for keeping their composure and not getting down when Paola started 10-1 on us,” Lane said. “The second half we played a box-and-1 on Ediger and Adyson did a great job guarding her one on one. The rest of the team did a great job communicating with each other and doubling Ediger when needed.”

The Lady Cats, which found themselves down 26-20 at halftime, had a big response in the third quarter. Louisburg outscored Paola 18-7 in the frame and opened the quarter on a 15-1 run.

Ross and Tally each hit 3-pointers during that stretch, while Ross was fouled on a 3-pointer and make all three free throws to put Louisburg up 35-29. Jordan Mynsted and Brianne Kuhlman each hit baskets during that stretch as well.

Paola cut it to 35-33 late in the quarter, when the Lady Cats got the big shot they were looking for and it came from their bench. Senior reserve Sierra Hahn knocked in a 3-pointer, her first of the season, to put Louisburg back up five.

“Sierra’s 3 pointer was awesome,” Lane said. “She made it at an opportune time too. The team fed off this shot and gained energy to finish the game.”

In an evenly-played fourth quarter, Paola tied the game at 39-all, but Louisburg scored seven straight points to pull away for the win as the Lady Cats knocked down their free throws when it counted.

“Free throws win games,” Lane said, “We shoot lots of free throws in practice and I do see it is paying off. When the girls step to the line, I am confident in each of them, because I know they can make them.”

The Lady Cats also had a big night on defense as they forced 20 Paola turnovers that turned into 12 points on the other end.

Ross led the Lady Cats in scoring with 15 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Mynsted had nine points and a team-high six rebounds

Louisburg will try for back-to-back wins tonight when it travels to Ottawa for a Frontier League matchup. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

LOU 9 11 18 10 — 48

PAO 19 7 7 11 — 44

LOUISBURG (6-7): Adyson Ross 4-10 6-8 15; Jordan Mynsted 2-10 5-8 9; Delanie Tally 2-8 0-0 6; Brianne Kuhlman 1-1 3-4 5; Emma Prettyman 1-4 3-8 5; Ashley Branine 2-3 0-1 4; Sierra Hahn 1-1 0-0 3; Emma Lohse 0-2 1-2 1. Totals: 13-39 18-31 48. 3-point field goals: 4, (Tally 2, Ross, Hahn)