Lady Cats down Bonner Springs for first league victory

Louisburg junior Ashlyn Kuhlman drives the lane Friday at home against Bonner Springs. Kuhlman finished with a game-high 15 points.

For much of the season, the Louisburg girls basketball team has been forced to play catch up. 

Starting the season with no varsity experience, the Lady Cats had just one win going into Friday’s home contest against Bonner Springs. Louisburg has constantly had to play from behind.

That didn’t have to on Friday.

The Lady Cats played in front from the opening whistle and never trailed as they held off Bonner Springs for a 40-35 victory. It was also the first Frontier League win for Louisburg and it came at a great time.

“We really played as a team,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “The bench was awesome. Everyone that was in played to their role and no one tried to do anything fancy. It was just a great game all around.”

Louisburg (2-11) kept the Braves at arm’s length for the entire game, despite second and fourth quarter runs by Bonner Springs to try and take the lead. 

Bonner Springs cut the Louisburg lead to 16-13, but junior Ashlyn Kuhlman knocked in a 3-pointer with 3:40 left in the first half to make it a 19-13 game. 

It would be one of four 3-pointers for Kuhlman as she scored a team-high 15 points and also pulled down a team-best eight rebounds.

“A three is awesome cause it gives us a little edge and allows us to set up our defense,” Lane said. “(Ashlyn) had a great shooting night and I thought the whole team did a good job going to the basket at opportune times. We will work on finishing and I think we will only get better.”

Late in the second quarter, Bonner Springs once again cut the lead to two, but Kuhlman hit a runner in the lane to push the lead back out to four. 

The Lady Cats took a 24-21 lead into halftime, but widened the lead again. Junior Sami Lane hit a 3-pointer to start the third quarter to push the lead to six.

Louisburg’s defense also followed suit as Shylar Whiting drew a charge and Sabra Brueggen pulled down an offensive rebound and scored to make it an eight point lead.

Rebounds were a big factor for the Lady Cats as they out-rebounded the Braves 46-33 and pulled down 18 offensive rebounds that led to 11 second chance points.

The Lady Cats also changed up defenses throughout the game to try and slow the Braves down. Louisburg implemented three or four defenses to give Bonner Springs some different looks.

“Bonner was super physical and I thought the girls did a great job matching that,” coach Lane said. “I also think we gave it back to them a little bit. For us, I think switching defense on them so many times, and the girls being able to execute that, is what got us that win. (Bonner) seemed a little confused when we switched and it took them awhile to get stuff set up. I think the girls did a great job being able to switch back and forth and play any defense we threw at them.”

Kuhlman hit a 3-pointer late in the third to put Louisburg up 32-21 and the Lady Cats took an 8-point lead into the final frame.

Bonner Springs cut the Louisburg lead to one with 5 minutes and 30 seconds left in the game, but Kuhlman hit a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound by Brueggen.

Whiting then hit a runner to make it a 6-point game with 2:10 left and the Lady Cats were able to hang on for the win. 

“I think the girls playing more confident is what allowed us to hold off Bonner Springs on their runs,” Lane said. “I told the girls not to play scared and to play to win. Even when we were ahead, we were going to the basket. We had a huge third quarter and I really think that go us going.”

Brueggen finished second on the team in scoring with six points and seven rebounds. Junior Addy Stohs also had a big night on the glass with seven rebounds, while Jillian Asher had a team-high three steals.

Louisburg will try and make it two wins in a row Tuesday when it hosts rival Paola. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

LOU 10 14 10 6 — 40

BON 5 16 5 9 — 35

LOUISBURG (2-11): Ashlyn Kuhlman 5-19 1-2 15; Sabra Brueggen 1-4 4-4 6; McKenna Lohse 0-1 4-6 4; Morgan Latham 2-4 0-0 4; Shylar Whiting 2-6 0-0 4; Sami Lane 1-3 1-2 4; Zyleigh Melton 1-2 0-0 2; Jillian Asher 0-6 1-2 1. Totals: 12-50 11-16 40. 3-point field goals: 5, (Kuhlman 4, Lane)

Lady Cats fall to No. 2 Wamego on the road

WAMEGO — Louisburg had a big challenge in front it last Tuesday as the Lady Cats traveled to No. 2 Wamego.

Despite an even first quarter, Wamego pulled away for a 63-24 victory. The game was tied at 9-all after the first quarter, but Wamego outscored Louisburg 23-3 in the second quarter to pull away.

Wamego point guard Lexi Hecht was a handful for the Lady Cats as she scored a game-high 26 points and also had seven assists and six steals.

Louisburg junior Shylar Whiting led the Lady Cats in scoring with a game-high eight points to go along with four rebounds. Sophomore McKenna Lohse also pull down four rebounds in the loss.

LOU 9 3 7 5 — 24

WAM 9 23 22 9 — 63

LOUISBURG: Shylar Whiting 2-5 3-5 8; Morgan Latham 2-5 1-2 5; Sami Lane 1-1 0-0 3; Maddie Yoder 0-1 3-4 3; Ashlyn Kuhlman 0-6 2-2 2; Zyleigh Melton 0-2 2-2 2; McKenna Lohse 0-3 1-2 1. Totals: 5-28 12-17 24. 3-point field goals: 2, (Lane, Whiting)