Louisburg senior Brianne Kuhlman knocked down 7-of-8 free throws in the final two minutes to help the Lady Cats to a 51-39 win Tuesday over Chanute in the sub-state semifinals.

Any coach will say how important free throws are in a close game and that was no different Tuesday for Louisburg.

In what was a tight contest in the Class 4A sub-state semifinals against Chanute, the Lady Cats knocked down 10 of 12 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes to earn a 51-39 win over the Blue Comets.

“Free throws are huge and I tell them that all the time,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “It is the difference between winning and losing. We made 10 down the stretch and we won by 12. It is a huge difference there if we don’t make them.”

Louisburg stayed calm and collected at the line, especially senior Brianne Kuhlman. The 3-year starting point guard knocked down 7 of 8 free throws to help seal the win for the Lady Cats. Emma Prettyman also hit a pair of free throws and Emma Lohse made one late.

After a close first half where Louisburg led by just three at halftime, it was the Lady Cats’ defense that played a big role in the third quarter. Louisburg held Chanute to just four points in the frame and was able to build an 11-point lead early in the fourth.

The Blue Comets made one final run at it as they trimmed the Louisburg lead to 37-35 midway through the fourth, but senior Delanie Tally knocked in a 3-pointer to give the Lady Cats a little cushion.

Louisburg took care of the rest at the free-throw line as it earned a spot in the sub-state championship with the win.

“I was so proud of them to just stick with it and keep playing hard,” Lane said. “Obviously the free throws were huge. I think we made like 10 of them down the stretch. I think in that third quarter too we came out with more energy and got a lead.”

Chanute also employed things the Lady Cats hadn’t seen most of the season, including a zone trap near half-court. On offense, the Blue Comets ran a lot of motion and cuts that allowed them to get some easy baskets.

“Their defense was something we really haven’t seen yet this year,” Lane said. “I was a little worried about it going in because they play that zone defense really high. The second half we did a little better job of knowing when to attack it, versus just passing around it. We got better as the game went on.

“We hadn’t really seen what Chanute does on offense either with all the motion and different cuts they made. That is why we didn’t pressure all that much either. They did a lot of back cuts and that is not something we are used to guarding. I do think that Chanute is developing into a good team. That is the same team that played us here last year and they have gotten better.”

Kuhlman, who did a lot her damage at the free-throw line, led the Lady Cats in scoring with 14 points and also had four rebounds and three assists. Adyson Ross finished with 13 points and four rebounds.

Prettyman, who was also a factor on the inside, finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Tally added a pair of 3-pointers and three assists, while senior Ava Baker had a team-high three steals and five points. 

The Lady Cats (15-6) are now one game away from the state tournament as they host Parsons (15-6) at 6 p.m. tonight for the sub-state championship. Parsons rallied from 16 points down to defeat Holton, 63-54, in their semifinal contest.

Louisburg knows it will be another tough challenge as it tries for its second state tournament appearance in three years.

“The girls are really excited,” Lane said. “We want to get back to Salina. That is the ultimate goal. Some of them were there two years ago, didn’t get to play a lot, but they felt what it was like. They want a chance to get on that floor and show what they are capable of.”

LOU 10 13 11 17 — 51

CHA 9 11 4 15 — 39

LOUISBURG (15-6): Brianne Kuhlman 3-5 7-8 14; Adyson Ross 6-13 0-0 13; Emma Prettyman 3-6 2-2 8; Delanie Tally 2-10 0-0 6; Ava Baker 2-9 0-0 5; Emma Lohse 1-5 1-2 3; Ashley Branine 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 17-48 10-12 51. 3-point field goals: 5, (Tally 2, Kuhlman, Baker, Ross)

Louisburg head girls basketball coach Adrianne Lane (left) and Harrisonville head coach BryAnn Middleton squared off with one another Thursday as the two sisters led their teams against each other for the first time.

Anchored on opposite sidelines Thursday at Harrisonville High School, Louisburg’s Adrianne Lane and Harrisonville’s BryAnn Middleton had a reunion of sorts.

At a glance, it might not seem that big of a deal for some, but if you were took look a little closer it touches many different levels.

Drexel Bobcat vs. Drexel Bobcat.

Louisburg Wildcat vs. Harrisonville Wildcat. 

Family vs. Family

Or more specifically, sister vs. sister.

That’s right, for the first time in a long while, Adrianne and BryAnn found themselves competing against each other — instead of competing together. Whether it was in high school at Drexel High, or later on in life, they both have had that competitive fire for the game of basketball.

After spending two years in high school on the same team, they went their separate ways to play college basketball. Throughout many of life’s journeys, they found their way back together on the court again — as coaches.

Not only was it a special moment for the two sisters, but it was also a big game for the respective teams.

For Adrianne, her team could clinch a top four seed, which would allow Louisburg to host sub-state.

And for BryAnn, this was a more special moment. Harrisonville had already clinched a conference championship, but it was Senior Night and she had to say goodbye to four players.

Neither team — or coach — wanted to lose and it had nothing to do with bragging rights.

“To be honest I was thinking more about senior night than coaching against my sister,” BryAnn said. “I knew it was going to be really special for our parents and daughters, but I think we both were just very concerned with our teams. We are both focused on the postseason and it was emotional for me because I’m losing 4 amazing players and people next season.”

“I knew going into the game that Harrisonville would play us tough,” Adrianne said. “I knew they would play great defense and would battle every possession. I felt like this was one of our more intense games the whole season.”

So there they were, screaming out instructions to their players in hopes of getting the win. Drawing up plays — plays and fundamentals they learned from when they were young.

You see, Adrianne and BryAnn were a part of state championship team at Drexel in 1996. Big sister BryAnn was a junior and Adrianne was a freshman.

It was see easy to see their competitive fires on the court and their coach had to find out the hard way one day in practice.

As a freshman, Adrianne was a member of the scout team, and with a player gone from practice, her coach, Brent Bartlett, decided to have her guard BryAnn. What happened next was unforgettable, you might say.

“Big, huge mistake,” BryAnn said. “She was not going to let me score and I was not going to let her stop me. It got pretty physical.”

“Let’s just say it ended with me pinning her against the wall, and she spit in my face, because that was her only defense,” Adrianne said. 

That seems pretty accurate.

“I think I put her on the floor and then when she got up she pinned me against the wall,” BryAnn said. “She had my legs and arms pinned so my only defense was to spit in her face. Not my brightest moment, but I didn’t want to lose.”

In the midst of the scrum, their coach — not sure what to do — decided to empty the gym. All except the two sisters. He had other ideas for them.

“After that the coach cleared the gym and made us run sprints,” Adrianne said. “And we ran hard.”

You would think after the tussle, their competitive fire would simmer a little. 

Nope.

“I think it was the hardest we had ever run, because again neither of us wanted to lose,” BryAnn said.

As rough as that day of practice was, it led to bigger and better things for the two sisters. Drexel went on to win the state championship that year and that team was eventually inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. 

BryAnn and Adrianne used all the running in practice and turned it into something good on the track. The two were members of the school’s 4×800 relay that won a gold medal at state that same year and finished second the following season.

“Being able to compete with my sister was always so rewarding,” Adrianne said. “She was quite the athlete and being able to be on her team, whether it was basketball or track relay team, was quite an honor. She worked so hard to be the great athlete she was.”

The two sisters then turned that success into college basketball careers, and then eventually into coaching. On Thursday, they were competing against each other once again.

They both knew their opponent well — not because of their players necessarily — but the two have similar ideas. When they have a chance to have family gatherings, basketball is always on the agenda.

“We are so busy keeping up with our schedules and our daughters’ schedules that we do not get a lot of time together,” BryAnn said. “When we are together that is almost all we talk about though. I love hearing her perspective and getting her advice. I love her take on new drills. I feel our philosophies are very similar and we realize that practice is where it is at and that is what you need to focus on the most to help your team and players level up.”

There to take it all in were their parents, Bryon and Lorrie Cook. Wearing neutral colors, they were there cheering on their daughters the best way they knew how — with smiles.

“I think my parents were probably the most excited they have been in a long time,” Adrianne said. “They spend most weekdays and weekends watching my family or my sisters family playing basketball. So having us all in one building was so exciting for them. I also know they are so proud of us and our programs. They are dedicated fans to both programs so I know they were cheering on every play.”

As the two teams traded shots in the first half, Louisburg got the best of Harrisonville with a big third quarter and held on for a 52-45 win. Adrianne got the bragging rights this time around, but neither coach was about to make this about them.

“I was so proud of the girls for finishing with a win,” Adrianne said. “It was a sweet win, but for me it was more about getting the 4 seed than anything.”

When the final buzzer sounded the two teams lined up to shake hands. As the two sisters came together, there was nothing but love between the two of them.

No spitting or pinning each other up against the scorer’s table, just admiration for what both have accomplished.

“From what I have seen, my sister has improved the Harrisonville girls basketball program tremendously,” Adrianne said. “Her work ethic is shown in this program as well as her dedication. I am so proud of her and how she has given herself to this program, the girls on her team are so lucky to have her.”

“I’m very excited for (Adrianne) and her sub-state this season,” BryAnn said. “Sounds like there is a chance we will get to go support them in Salina again this year. We are there when we can be.”

Just like any family would.

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week 11 of the winter sports season, sponsored by Prime Accounting Solutions.

EMMA PRETTYMAN, SENIOR, GIRLS BASKETBALL

Louisburg senior Emma Prettyman put together a big week for the Lady Cat basketball team as she helped Louisburg to a pair of wins to end the regular season. Prettyman finished the week with a team-high 23 rebounds and eight assists in wins over Paola and Harrisonville. She also added 14 points.

Prettyman had a big performance against Harrisonville as the Lady Cat forward had a team-high 15 rebounds to go along with seven points and four assists. The victory helped Louisburg earn the No. 4 seed and host the upcoming sub-state tournament.

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners

Week 1: Adyson Ross

Week 2: Colin Brown

Week 3: Colyer Wingfield

Week 4: Kaven Bartlett

Week 5: Trace Eslinger

Week 6: Jay McCaskill

Week 7: Andrew Jamison

Week 8: Brianne Kuhlman

Week 9: Colton Prettyman

Week 10: Elijah Eslinger

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)

Louisburg senior Adyson Ross finished with a double-double Tuesday against Paola on Senior Night and helped the Lady Cats to a 47-39 win.

As the ball was thrown into the air for the opening tip — the whistle blew and a technical foul was called on the Louisburg bench.

Normally, technicals are followed with frustration, anger and probably a bunch of yelling. Not in this case. Instead, the smiles could been seen up and down the Lady Cat bench.

It was Senior Night for Louisburg on Tuesday against Paola and the Lady Cats wanted to honor their seven seniors in the proper way. Only five could start, but that didn’t stop head coach Adrianne Lane from starting all seven.

One of the seven included senior Tehya Harvey, who has been out all season with a knee injury and Harvey was able to suit up and take the floor one last time.

“As a coach I have never had to worry about having too many seniors to start on senior night,” Lane said. “I wanted all of the girls to get the opportunity to start because all seven of them deserved to be honored on Senior Night.

“Tehya was very excited to suit up and be on the court with her teammates. I think this was a very special moment for her and I am so glad she got the opportunity to get on the court this season.”

Along with Harvey, seniors Adyson Ross, Delanie Tally, Emma Lohse, Emma Prettyman, Brianne Kuhlman and Ava Baker made it a memorable one as they left the floor with a 47-39 win over Paola.

The Lady Cats got out to a fast start and never looked back as they took a 17-point lead at one point in the second half. Louisburg has now won five of its last six games as the postseason draws near.

“The girls were very excited to get the win against Paola,” Lane said. “They started off great and played hard. I feel the girls have started playing so well together and their trust for each other is shown on the floor.”

It showed early on as the Lady Cats took a 15-8 lead after the first quarter and then held Paola to just four points in the second quarter. Louisburg led 28-12 at halftime.

Ross was a big part of the Louisburg success as she finished with a double-double to end her regular season home career. She finished with a team-high 14 points and had 10 rebounds.

Baker was second on the team with eight points. Prettyman had a strong performance under the basket with seven points, eight rebounds and a team-high four assists.

With the Lady Cats’ recent success, they have shot up the Class 4A standings and are currently in the mix for the No. 4 seed, which would allow them to host the upcoming sub-state tournament.

Even with all that success, the Lady Cats (13-6) will need to win one more to stay in contention for a top four seed. Louisburg will travel to Harrisonville (Mo.) tonight for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff in its regular season finale.

Along with all that, it will also be a special night for Lane. Her sister, BryAnn Middleton, is the Harrisonville head coach and Lane is excited for the opportunity to go up against her big sister.

“It will be a fun game for my family,” Lane said. “Harrisonville won its last game to make them conference champs, so they are having a great season. I think it will be a defensive battle.

“We both coach very similar philosophies, so I think the game will come down to who can take care of the basketball and finish in the lane.”

LOU 15 13 11 8 — 47

PAO 8 4 10 17 — 39

LOUISBURG (13-6): Adyson Ross 6-14 2-2 14; Ava Baker 4-5 0-1 8; Emma Prettyman 3-7 1-3 7; Emma Lohse 2-2 0-0 4; Ashley Branine 2-6 0-0 4; Brianne Kuhlman 1-4 2-2 4; Delanie Tally 1-12 1-2 4; Ashlyn Kuhlman 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 19-51 8-12 47. 3-point field goals: 1, (Tally)

Louisburg senior Emma Lohse drives the lane Tuesday during the Lady Cats’ road win at Eudora. Lohse came off the bench to score 13 points.

EUDORA — The Louisburg girls found themselves in a difficult situation in the third quarter of Tuesday’s road contest against Eudora.

Eudora scored the first nine points of the second half to take the lead, plus senior forward Emma Prettyman had to sit with four fouls. The Lady Cats needed a spark and they got it from their bench.

Senior Emma Lohse, junior Ashley Branine and sophomore Mackenzie Rooney played valuable minutes in the second half to help give the Lady Cats the lead back.

Senior starter Adyson Ross took over from there as she scored nine fourth quarter points to help Louisburg escape Eudora, 38-34, as the Lady Cats moved to 12-6 on the season.

Louisburg, which had a two-point lead going into the fourth, got two 3-pointers from Lohse and Ross to give the Lady Cats a little cushion in the final minutes.

Ross then hit a runner with two minutes left to give Louisburg a five-point lead. She would then go on to hit four consecutive free throws in the final seconds and finished with a team-high 16 points. She also tallied a team-high six rebounds.

“Adyson did great and finished hard,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “I told the girls at halftime that even if your shots aren’t going in, you just need to keep shooting. Adyson finally got one to go, and it was a big one. She made some big plays there for us in the fourth quarter.”

The Lady Cats wouldn’t have been in that position for Ross’ heroics without the play of their bench, especially in the second half.

Lohse was second on the team in scoring with 13 points on the night, while Branine finished with six. Along with Rooney, all three provided a big defensive presence for Louisburg.

“Those three came in and played super hard and really gave us some good minutes,” Lane said. “When both Emma and Mack were in, we played super fast. I told the girls to take advantage of that and get out and play fast. Ashley has been playing so good lately. She has been rebounding and keeping the ball alive and doing a great job. Those three played some big minutes for us.”

It wasn’t the best of offensive nights for the Lady Cats, but they used their defense to get the road win. Louisburg forced 15 Eudora turnovers and held the Cardinals to just 31 percent shooting.

The Lady Cats scored 23 points off those Eudora mistakes. Louisburg will certainly take the win as they head into the final week of the regular season.

“A win is a win I would say,” Lane said. “We were able to play some good defense. We played a little zone, which is something different for us, and I think the girls did a good job with that.”

Louisburg will play their home regular season finale Tuesday when the Wildcats host Paola for Senior Night as the Lady Cats honor their seven seniors.

It will make for an emotional evening when they square off with their rival.

“Paola always wants to beat us,” Lane said. “I told the girls that their record doesn’t show how good of a team they are. They are fast, physical and they are going to want to come in and get a win. It will be a hard night with Senior Night, so we are going to have to play well.”

LOU 7 13 6 12 — 38

EUD 2 11 11 10 — 34

LOUISBURG (12-6): Adyson Ross 4-15 5-6 14; Emma Lohse 4-6 3-3 13; Ashley Branine 3-4 0-0 6; Ava Baker 1-7 0-1 3; Delanie Tally 1-8 0-0 2. Totals: 13-45 8-11 38. 3-point field goals: 4, (Lohse 2, Ross, Baker)

Louisburg senior Delanie Tally scored a team-high 14 points Tuesday at home against Tonganoxie. The Lady Cats cruised to a 54-32 win.

From the opening tip, it was clear it was going to be Louisburg’s night.

The Lady Cats scored the game’s first 14 points and held Tongnaoxie scoreless in the first quarter, en route to a 54-32 victory. It was the Lady Cats’ third straight win.

“Tuesday was a great win for our team,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “All the girls got to play and contribute to this victory. Our defense was good and we got to work on a couple different defenses, which is always helpful this deep into the season.”

Louisburg, which improved its record to 11-5 on the season and is currently ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, didn’t waste any time to get going against the Chieftains.

Senior Adyson Ross opened the game with back-to-back baskets and then senior Delanie Tally recorded a steal and a 3-pointer. Ross added another score and Tally recorded another 3-pointer to put the Lady Cats up 12. 

Louisburg senior Ava Baker knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Lady Cats a 14-0 lead over Tonganoxie after one quarter. It was all Louisburg the rest of the way as it led 27-7 at halftime.

Tally led Louisburg in scoring with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Ross nearly had a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Baker was also in double figures with 12 points and seven boards.

The Lady Cats were strong on the defensive end as they held Tonganoxie to 26 percent shooting and forced 13 turnovers. Tally was active all night with five steals and junior Ashley Branine had four to go along with eight points and six rebounds.

Lane also got the chance to empty her bench in the fourth quarter. Sophomore Ashlyn Kuhlman scored her first varsity basket.

“It is always a lot of fun when all the girls get to play,” Lane said. “The sophomores work so hard every day in practice and when they get to contribute on the varsity team it makes for a happy locker room after the game. The upperclassmen are always encouraging and excited for them.”

Louisburg will go up against one of the Frontier League’s top teams on Friday as the Lady Cats travel to Spring Hill. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. 

The Broncos handed the Lady Cats one of their five losses on the year and Lane knows it will be a challenge on the road.

“Friday will be a tough game for us and we will have to start hard and battle the entire game,” Lane said. “I am excited to play Spring Hill again. I think this game will give us an idea of where we are currently as a team and will also help us see things we need to work on before the postseason. 

“Defense and communication are going to be key for this game. We will also work on getting to the basket, knowing when we are open, and finishing in the lane with tough defense on us.”

LOU 14 13 17 10 — 54

TON 0 7 9 16 — 32

LOUISBURG (11-5): Delanie Tally 5-9 0-0 14; Adyson Ross 6-13 0-1 12; Ava Baker 4-7 2-2 12; Ashley Branine 4-8 0-0 8; Brianne Kuhlman 1-7 0-1 2; Emma Prettyman 1-2 0-0 2; Ashlyn Kuhlman 1-4 0-0 2; Sami Lane 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 23-59 2-4 54. 3-point field goals: 6, (Tally 4, Baker 2)

Here is the Louisburg Sports Zone Athlete of the Week for week eight of the winter sports season, sponsored by Dr. Laura’s Orthodontics.

BRIANNE KUHLMAN, SENIOR, GIRLS BASKETBALL

Louisburg senior point guard Brianne Kuhlman was one of the keys to a pair of victories for the Lady Cat basketball team last week against Paola and Ottawa. Kuhlman finished with 11 points in the two games, but also added with 11 rebounds from her point guard spot. She also recorded a team-high eight assists.

Kuhlman is a 3-year starter for the Lady Cats and has helped lead them to an 11-5 record so far this season.

“Brianne had a great week,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “She has such a big, calm presence on our team. She is very consistent and takes care of the basketball in all situations. Brianne is a leader on our team, and I feel like her stats show that because she has stats in all categories. She is very even across the board.”

The athlete of the week award is announced every Wednesday morning during the winter season and the winner is selected by Louisburg Sports Zone with the help of nominations from coaches.

Previous winners

Week 1: Adyson Ross

Week 2: Colin Brown

Week 3: Colyer Wingfield

Week 4: Kaven Bartlett

Week 5: Trace Eslinger

Week 6: Jay McCaskill

Week 7: Andrew Jamison

Louisburg point guard Brianne Kuhlman passes it to an open teammate Friday during the Lady Cats’ homecoming game against Ottawa.

After losing to Ottawa earlier in the season, the Louisburg girls basketball team wanted to make a statement.

The Lady Cats wanted to prove they were better than what they showed a month ago and they got that chance Friday when they hosted the Cyclones. 

Louisburg took full advantage.

The Lady Cats held Ottawa to just eight first half points and cruised to a 50-35 homecoming win over the Cyclones. It was also the second straight win for Louisburg as it improved to 10-5 on the season.

“The team was very excited to get the win on Friday,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We have worked very hard over the past several weeks to get better and be able to beat them.”

Defense was at the top of the list of priorities for the Lady Cats and they made their presence felt. Louisburg held Ottawa to just 25 percent shooting and forced 18 turnovers.

Louisburg turned those Ottawa mistakes into 17 points and the Lady Cats also pulled down 13 offensive rebounds to account for 10 second chance points.

“Defense was key for us on Friday,” Lane said. “We practiced defense a lot last week leading up to the game. Ottawa does a great job of getting into the lane, so we focused on not letting the offense cut in front of our faces and weakside help.”

Offensively, the Lady Cats also got scoring from up and down its lineup as three players scored in double figure. It all started with senior Adyson Ross.

Ross recorded a double-double as she led the Lady Cats with 17 points to go along with 11 rebounds. Senior guard Delanie Tally was also in double figures with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Another senior, Ava Baker, added 10 points and a pair of 3-pointers.

“Adyson was great on Friday, and she does a fantastic job of creating shots for herself and movement in the offense and her rebounding has been great the whole season,” Lane said. “Her offensive rebounding has given us several second chances and they have paid off.

“Having three players score in double digits is great for the team. It’s hard for other teams to guard us when we have so many scoring threats. And we have had several different leading scorers throughout the season.”

Senior point guard Brianne Kuhlman also had a big night as she was second on the team with six rebounds and led Louisburg with four assists, along with Tally. Kuhlman also had five points in the win.

Louisburg took control of the game early as the Lady Cats jumped out to a 14-4 at the end of the first quarter. They then scored the first eight points of the second quarter to go up 18, before leading 22-8 at halftime.

The Lady Cats kept the Cyclones at arm’s length the rest of the way as Ottawa wasn’t able to trim the lead to under 10 as the Lady Cats were able to empty their bench in the final minute.

Louisburg will try and make it three straight wins Tuesday when it hosts Tonganoxie in a rematch from the season opener. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

“I feel the team is strong right now,” Lane said. “We have been playing well together as a team and I think we will continue to get better and better each week. We have to keep battling and fighting until the last game.”

LOU 14 8 16 12 — 50

OTT 4 4 14 13 — 35

LOUISBURG (10-5): Adyson Ross 5-13 6-6 17; Delanie Tally 4-13 0-0 11; Ava Baker 4-11 0-0 10; Brianne Kuhlman 2-8 1-1 5; Ashley Branine 2-5 0-0 4; Emma Lohse 1-3 0-0 3. Totals: 18-55 7-9 50. 3-point field goals: 7, (Tally 3, Baker 2, Lohse, Ross)

Louisburg junior Ashley Branine goes up for a shot in the lane Tuesday during the Lady Cats’ 53-37 win at Paola High School.

PAOLA — Nothing like a road win against your rival to help get things right again.

That is exactly what the Louisburg girls got Tuesday at Paola. After back-to-back losses to state-ranked teams, the Lady Cats put together a strong performance on the road as they knocked off the Panthers, 53-37.

Louisburg used its defense and timely shots to get back on the winning track.

“We played well overall.” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We moved the ball well, which I really thought was key in this game. We needed to keep it moving, cut back door, get it inside and throw it back out if we needed to. The girls did a really good job.

“They were very excited for this game. We needed this one for sure and the girls played well. They played smart and it was good to see.”

Defensively, the Lady Cats turned the Panthers over 21 times, which included 18 steals. Senior Emma Lohse made things difficult on Paola with a team-high five steals and senior Delanie Tally added four.

Louisburg took a 30-19 lead at halftime and the Lady Cats held Paola to just five points in the third quarter to balloon their lead to 19.

“I thought we did well defensively,” Lane said. “Paola is a pretty big team and I think they outsized us at almost every position. We did a good job holding our own and boxing out on missed shots.”

Senior Adyson Ross hit several big shots throughout the night for Louisburg as she finished with a team-high 18 points and a team-best nine rebounds.

Senior Ava Baker added nine points, while senior Emma Prettyman had eight on the inside to go along with seven rebounds — six of those coming on the offensive end.

The Lady Cats will try to avenge a loss from earlier in the season as they host Ottawa on Friday for their homecoming game. Tipoff its set for 6 p.m.

“I am excited for Friday,” Lane said. “It is a long week with homecoming and everything going on. We get to play Ottawa again and we are going to have to be ready. We are going to have to play physical and we have to finish in the lane for sure. We are excited for the opportunity.”

LOU 14 16 13 10 — 53

PAO 11 8 5 13 — 37

LOUISBURG (9-5): Adyson Ross 7-16 2-5 18; Ava Baker 4-12 0-0 9; Emma Prettyman 2-8 4-4 8; Delanie Tally 3-10 0-0 7; Ashley Branine 2-8 0-0 4; Brianne Kuhlman 2-3 0-0 4; Mackenzie Rooney 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 21-64 6-9 53. 3-point field goals: 5, (Ross 2, Tally, Baker, Rooney)