Lady Cats defeat Harrisonville, earn top four seed in sub-state

Louisburg senior Ava Baker (left) celebrates with teammate Emma Prettyman after a big basket Thursday at Harrisonville High School.

HARRISONVILLE. Mo. — There was a lot riding on Louisburg’s regular season finale and it came against a different kind of opponent.

The Lady Cats ventured outside league play Thursday and traveled to Harrisonville. A victory meant they would host the sub-state tournament and a victory is exactly what they got.

Louisburg used a big third quarter to take a 10-point lead and the Lady Cats were able to hold on for a 52-45 victory over Harrisonville.

With the win, Louisburg earned the No. 4 seed in the sub-state tournament and will host No. 13 Chanute on Wednesday. If the Lady Cats advance, they will also host the sub-state championship game on Saturday.

“This was a big win for the girls,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We needed the win, and I felt like the girls played like they knew we needed to win. I thought we did a great job finishing the game. We made several free throws down the stretch to finalize it.”

It was close for much of the contest as the Lady Cats held just a one-point lead at halftime, however they put together an offensive showing in the third.

Louisburg responded with 19 points in the frame and took a 10-point lead going into the final quarter. Senior point guard Brianne Kuhlman led the charge with seven points in the third and senior Delanie Tally also hit a pair of 3-pointers before having to sit with foul trouble.

“At halftime we talked a lot about finishing better in the lane, and in the second half I thought the girls came out and did a better job of that,” Lane said.

Harrisonville didn’t go away, however, as it trimmed the Louisburg lead to just 48-45 late in the fourth quarter. The Lady Cats were able to seal it late with four free throws from Ava Baker and Kuhlman.

Tally had a big night for the Lady Cats despite dealing with foul trouble. She finished with a team-high 16 points, including four 3-pointers.

Senior forward Emma Prettyman dominated the glass with a team-high 15 rebounds to go along with seven points and a team-best four assists and two steals.

Kuhlman also had a strong outing as she tallied 11 points to go along with seven rebounds from the point guard spot. Senior Adyson Ross added 10 points and three assists.

Baker tallied eight points and three rebounds in the win. 

“Delanie had a great night, with four 3-pointers and had a couple 2’s down the stretch,” Lane said. “She played with confidence and I was so proud of her for keeping her head up even when she got into foul trouble.

“Brianne had a heck of a game, as she scored all her points in the second half and she did a great job getting to the basket. She made four really big free throws for us down the stretch as well. Emma P really dominated the lane and she made some big free throws as well.”

Now all focus is on the postseason as the Lady Cats try to earn a spot in the Class 4A state tournament. Their journey begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday when they host Chanute in the sub-state semifinals.

If they advance, Louisburg will plays the winner of Parsons and Holton on Saturday for the sub-state championship.

“We are very excited for the postseason,” Lane said. “If we play well like we have been all season, I feel like we have a great chance to get to Salina. That being said, we will work hard this week and be prepared for whoever we are playing.”

LOU 12 10 19 11 — 52

HAR 11 10 10 14 — 45

LOUISBURG (14-6): Delanie Tally 6-14 0-0 16; Brianne Kuhlman 3-6 4-5 11; Adyson Ross 3-12 4-6 10; Ava Baker 2-8 2-2 8; Emma Prettyman 2-8 3-6 7.  Totals: 16-56 13-19 52. 3-point field goals: 7, (Tally 4, Baker 2, Kuhlman)