Louisburg junior Brock Vohs goes up for a shot between two Bonner Springs defenders Friday at Bonner Springs High School.
BONNER SPRINGS — In its first game in a week, the Louisburg boys basketball team squared off with Bonner Springs on Friday in hopes of building on its 3-game winning streak.
The Braves had other ideas.
Bonner Springs scored the game’s first 14 points and the Braves never looked back as they handed Louisburg a 72-45 loss at Bonner Springs High School.
“Bonner is a top 2 or 3 team in the Frontier League,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “They have a lot of athleticism on the floor and have a lot of scoring options, which makes them tough to stop. They were hot from 3 early and our struggles offensively got us down to start the game.
“I told our guys at half that if we can get some of our shots to fall, and they come back to reality with their shooting, then we will be ok. We never did get into any kind of rhythm to make a run.”
The Braves pushed the pace early and often as it was an up and down game and they took advantage of their fast break opportunities. Bonner Springs forced 19 turnovers and turned those into 26 points.
Bonner Springs also got hot from the outside with 10 3-pointers and took a 40-23 halftime advantage.
Louisburg sophomore Myles Vohs drives the length of the floor after a steal for a layup Friday against Bonner Springs.
As for Louisburg, the Wildcats (7-6) couldn’t get much to fall as it shot 30 percent for the game and connected on just one 3-pointer.
“Against a team like that, you can’t bring your C or D game, you have to bring your A game,” Pfannenstiel said. “We definitely didn’t have that tonight and that’s why the score was so lopsided. Basketball is a long season, so you have to learn from games like that, correct the mistakes, and continue to make improvements. Our guys will be excited to get back on the floor.”
Senior Colyer Wingfield led the Wildcats in scoring with 19 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Senior Mason Dobbins and sophomore Conlee Hovey each added six points in the loss.
The Wildcats will try and bounce back tonight as they travel to Paola for a Frontier League matchup. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Lady Cats fall to No. 3 Wamego in state-ranked battle
Louisburg senior Adyson Ross goes up for a shot during a tournament game last week in Tonganoxie. Ross and fellow senior Delanie Tally were each named to the Tonganoxie Invitational All-Tournament Team.
TONGANOXIE — Normally a matchup of two top 10 teams is reserved for the semifinals or championship game of a tournament.
That wasn’t the case Saturday when No. 10 Louisburg faced off with No. 3 Wamego in the fifth place game of the Tonganoxie Invitational. Still, it was an opportunity for the Lady Cats to measure themselves against one of the state’s best.
The Lady Cats found themselves in a battle with Wamego and even had the lead in the second half. Unfortunately, turnovers and missed free throws haunted the Lady Cats in their 52-42 loss at Tonganoxie High School.
“I thought the girls played a tough and smart game against Wamego,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We battled with them the whole game. Wamego hit a couple threes down the stretch that pulled them ahead. Then we shot just 33 percent from the free-throw line and that really hurt us in the end.”
Louisburg got out to a good start with a 16-11 lead after the first quarter, but Wamego held the Lady Cats to just four second quarter points and took a 21-20 halftime advantage.
The Lady Cats came out of halftime on fire as it scored the first seven points and eventually took a 31-26 advantage late in the third quarter. Wamego ended the period on a 13-2 run to grab a six point lead it would never relinquish.
Mistakes hurt Louisburg as it committed 16 turnovers, which led to 18 points for Wamego. The Lady Cats also hit 8 of 20 from the free-throw line, compared to 17 of 23 attempts for the Red Raiders.
Even with a losses to a talented Wamego team, and a bigger school in Blue Valley West earlier in the week, Lane believes her team improved against some challenging competition.
“This was a very tough week for the girls, but I feel like we got a lot better throughout the week,” Lane said. “We played some really good teams, but we played with them. Moving on from this tournament, I think we will be a stronger and smarter team.”
Seniors Adyson Ross and Delanie Tally both finished in double figures in scoring for the Lady Cats. Ross led the team with 14 points and four rebounds, while Tally added with 11.
The two players were rewarded for their efforts as they were both named to the all-tournament team on Saturday.
“I am very proud of Adyson and Delanie for making the all-tournament team,” Lane said. They both had three very good games in the tournament. They played hard and fought on both sides of the basketball.
“Delanie has done a great job looking to score and being confident in herself. She made some big baskets throughout the week, not only 3’s, but she did a great job of getting to the basket. Adyson had a great week. She does a great job of rebounding and finishing in the lane and she also hit some big shots. I felt like all the girls played very well in this tournament, we played great as a team and work well as a team.”
The Lady Cats will have a difficult challenge as they get back into Frontier League play Friday as they travel to Bonner Springs, which is currently the No. 7 team in Class 5A. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
LOU 16 4 13 9 — 42
WAM 11 10 18 13 — 52
LOUISBURG (8-4): Adyson Ross 4-8 4-6 14; Delanie Tally 4-4 2-4 11; Ava Baker 3-7 0-0 7; Ashley Branine 1-4 1-2 3; Brianne Kuhlman 1-2 1-2 3; Emma Lohse 1-5 0-0 2; Emma Prettyman 1-4 0-6 2. Totals: 15-34 8-20 42. 3-point field goals: 4, (Ross 2, Tally, Baker)
Wildcats rally to capture Pleasanton Tournament title
Members of the Louisburg boys basketball team, who won the Pleasanton Tournament title are (front row, from left) Luke Hill, Myles Vohs, Brady Hickey, Cade Gassman, Nathan Parker, Josh Holtzen, Isaiah Whitley; (back row) Brock Vohs, Gavin Lohse, Luke Schultz, Conlee Hovey, Mason Dobbins, Trey Myers, Jaymes Melton and Colyer Wingfield.
PLEASANTON — Down 10 in the championship game of the Pleasanton Tournament on Friday, Louisburg needed a spark.
The Wildcats got it from some of the unlikeliest of places — their bench. Rarely used players Gavin Lohse and Luke Schultz, along with guard Nathan Parker, combined for 32 points and helped Louisburg to a 69-53 win over Northeast Kansas of Topeka.
Louisburg outscored the Nighthawks 46-20 in the second half and left with a tournament title and three straight wins.
“That is why you play for four quarters,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “We just kind of seemed flat to start. We had nine turnovers in the first half and shots just weren’t falling. In the second half, we said we were going to bring energy. Defense is what really sparked us and there was definitely a different body language and energy in that second half.
“Sometimes as a coach that is concerning because it shouldn’t be that way, but our kids responded well. All our kids contributed and we got some good production off the bench. All weekend was really good and all our kids contributed to this tournament win.”
Louisburg sophomore Gavin Lohse stretches out for a rebound Friday against Northeast Kansas.
Parker, who didn’t play in the first half, came off the bench to score 12 points in the second half to give the Wildcats the scoring spark they were looking for.
Lohse and Schultz, a sophomore and freshman, respectively, also were big in the rally. Schultz scored in double figures with 11 points and had four rebounds, while Lohse added nine points.
“This week has been tricky as we had a JV tournament as well, so the kids only get 20 games in a year we were trying to work around that where they can play in both tournaments,” Pfannenstiel said. “We had like 3 or 4 guys designated each night and Nathan wasn’t supposed to play in this one. He was a big difference for us and he really stretches the floor and he shot the ball well. He played really good defense as well and took a couple charges.
“Gavin and Luke hadn’t seen a lot of varsity time yet and they were huge for us. They were both close to double figures and they just played hard and pretty smart. They brought a lot of energy out there, and hats off to those guys for taking advantage of their opportunity.”
Senior Colyer Wingfield was the steady hand for the Wildcats as he led all scorers with 17 points to go along with a team-high seven assists and six rebounds.
Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield goes up for two of his game-high 17 points Friday at Pleasanton.
Sophomore Conlee Hovey also played strong down low as the Wildcat forward finished with a double-double — 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Down 33-23 at halftime, the Wildcats used their defense to help get them back in it. For the game, Louisburg forced 21 turnovers and scored 16 points off those mistakes.
The Wildcats improved their record to 7-5 on the season as they prepare to get back into Frontier League play. Louisburg will travel to Bonner Springs this Friday for a league matchup.
“We talked going into this tournament that we needed to get our confidence back,” Pfannenstiel said. “We have played good basketball this year, but we kind of went through a stretch where we were struggling offensively. This was a good week for us to get that confidence and swagger going. A win is a win and to win three in a row is a good accomplishment.”
Wildcats get out to quick start in win over Pleasanton
In its journey to the championship, Louisburg first had to get by Pleasanton on Thursday in the second round of tournament play.
The Wildcats jumped out to an 18-point halftime lead and never looked back in a 74-39 win over the Blu-Jays.
Louisburg built on that halftime lead as it outscored Pleasanton 25-10 in the third period to seal the win for the Wildcats.
Colyer Wingfield led the Wildcats in scoring with a game-high 21 points to go along with nine rebounds and four assists. He also finished with five steals.
Louisburg sophomore Conlee Hovey stretches out for a rebound Friday in Pleasanton.
Senior Trey Myers scored well from the outside as he finished with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Sophomore Conlee Hovey just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine boards.
Senior Mason Dobbins had a big day on the glass with a team-high 13 rebounds to go along with nine points and three blocks. Senior Isaiah Whitley had eight points and six boards, while junior Jaymes Melton came off the bench to score six points and he also pulled down 10 rebounds.
“Against Pleasanton, our defense was good and I think our length gave them some problems,” Pfannenstiel said. “Our kids definitely played well this week and was good to see them play a little more consistent. Hopefully this is the momentum we need as we get back into the Frontier League.”
Lady Cats bounce back with win over Eudora at Tongie Invite
Louisburg senior Brianne Kuhlman dribbles around a couple Eudora defenders Thursday thanks to a screen from sophomore Mackenzie Rooney. The Lady Cats cruised to a 50-28 win over Eudorain Tonganoxie.
TONGANOXIE — The last time the Louisburg girls basketball team faced Eudora was a little more than two weeks ago.
Louisburg squeaked out a win and now the Lady Cats had to see them again in the consolation semifinals Thursday in the Tonganoxie Invitational. This matchup was nothing like the last.
The Lady Cats connected on seven 3-pointers and used a big first half to propel them to a 50-28 victory over the Cardinals and advanced to the tournament’s fifth place game Saturday.
“The difference was I think we just made outside shots,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “We only made two the last time we played them so that was a lot better. Our intensity was really good and we switched our defense up with a 1-3-1 and I thought the girls did a good job with that.”
It didn’t look promising to start the game as Eudora jumped out to a quick 6-0 advantage, but the Lady Cats had an answer. Louisburg put together a 14-0 run to finish the first quarter to go up eight.
The Lady Cats then used a quick 7-0 run to end the first half and took a 27-16 lead at halftime.
Louisburg got consistent scoring up from and down its lineup.
Ava Baker goes up for two of her eight points Thursday against Eudora.
Seniors Adyson Ross and Delanie Tally each had 11 points to lead the way, while fellow seniors Brianne Kuhlman and Ava Baker each added eight. Tally also knocked down three 3-pointers and Baker had two.
Ross led the Lady Cats with six assists on the night and junior Ashley Branine finished with five.
Baker also found herself in the starting lineup as senior Emma Lohse was out with an illness and she made an immediate impact.
“Ava did a great job,” Lane said. “I was going to start her anyway as I wanted her to guard Sawyer Schriener as I thought that was a good matchup for her. She did a really good job and she has played well the last few games and really brought us a spark.
“When we can all be consistent scorers, that is obviously a good thing for us. I mean Brianne had like 8, Adyson and Delanie were in double figures and Ava gave us good points as well. When we do that, we are hard to guard. They have to worry about all of us.”
The Louisburg (8-3) defense came up big in the second half as the Lady Cats held Eudora to just five points in the third quarter and forced 18 turnovers for the game. They scored 15 points off those Eudora mistakes.
Louisburg sophomore Sami Lane pulls up for a shot Thursday against Eudora. Lane and fellow sophomore Jillian Asher each made their first varsity field goal.
All that allowed Louisburg to empty its bench as seven sophomores saw playing time. Jillian Asher hit a 3-pointer, while Sami Lane also knocked down a shot to give them their first varsity field goals.
“That is very exciting to see them all get some time on the varsity level,” Lane said. “It has been a minute since they have gotten into a game and they deserve it. They all work so hard in practice and are making us better. Glad they all got to get out there.”
It will be quite the fifth place game Saturday as the Lady Cats, who are currently No. 10 in Class 4A, will square off with No. 3 Wamego. Tipoff is set for 10 a.m.
“I am excited to play them because I think this will give us a chance to see where we are at,” Lane said of Wamego. “From just the stuff I have watched, and from playing them over the summer, they never quit. Any ball at all times is their basketball.
“It will probably be a rough game, but it will be a fun one that is up and down and fast. I think we match up with them well and hopefully we can give them a good go.”
Louisburg had a big test Tuesday in the opening round of the Tonganoxie Invitational.
Not only did the Lady Cats have to go up against Class 6A Blue Valley West, they also had the challenge of guarding one of the tallest girls they will see all season.
The Jaguars’ Lily Ba, a Tulane commit, was a force in the middle at 6-foot-3. Despite the big obstacle, the Lady Cats had the lead in the final quarter.
Unfortunately, Blue Valley West put together a big run late as the Jaguars handed Louisburg a 51-45 loss.
Ba was a factor in the game as she scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds. She also banked in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give her team a 22-21 lead at halftime.
Louisburg junior Ashley Branine drives the lane against Eudora on Thursday at the Tonganoxie Invitational.
“I thought the girls played well against Blue Valley West,” Lane said. “We played solid on both sides of the ball. Emma (Prettyman) did a great job guarding and boxing out Lily Ba, and the rest of the girls did well helping. If we got a couple different bounces we could have won that game. I thought it was a great match up for us.”
Louisburg held 40-38 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Jaguars went on a 9-0 run and the Lady Cats weren’t able to catch back up.
Delanie Tally led Louisburg in scoring with 14 points, including four 3-pointers and Adyson Ross also scored in double figures with 12. Ava Baker finished with nine.
Emma Prettyman tallied a team-high five assists, while Brianne Kuhlman had six points and a team-best five rebounds.
LOU 6 15 14 10 — 45
BVW 9 13 10 19 — 51
LOUISBURG: Delanie Tally 4-9 2-2 14; Adyson Ross 4-13 1-2 12; Ava Baker 3-9 2-2 9; Brianne Kuhlman 3-6 0-0 6; Emma Lohse 1-3 0-0 2; Emma Prettyman 1-4 0-0 2. Totals: 16-47 5-6 45. 3-point field goals: 8, (Tally 4, Ross 3, Baker)
Wildcats light up nets in victory over Osawatomie
Louisburg junior Nathan Parker (1) celebrates with teammate Brady Hickey after a made 3-pointer Tuesday against Osawatomie at Pleasanton High School. The Wildcats made 13 3-pointers in the 55-point win over the Trojans to begin the Pleasanton Tournament.
PLEASANTON — For the last few games, it seemed there was a lid on the basket for the Louisburg boys basketball team.
That lid finally came off, Tuesday.
After some recent shooting struggles, the Wildcats caught fire against Osawatomie in their first game of the Pleasanton Mid-Season Tournament. Louisburg shot 48 percent from the field and knocked down 13 3-pointers.
All that turned into a 77-22 victory over the Trojans as the Wildcats evened their record to 5-5 on the season. It also ended a four-game losing streak in the process.
“That is what we told our kids is that we just need to get some confidence back,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “I know our kids can shoot the ball, but we just went through a little rough patch there for awhile, but I guess coming to the Pleasanton gym made a difference.
“The ball was definitely going through the hoop and that is how games can really get away. I was proud of the way we played.”
The 55-point victory and 13 made 3-pointers were the highest totals of the season by far for Louisburg and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Four different players knocked down threes, but it was junior Nathan Parker that had the biggest impact from behind the arc. Parker knocked down six 3-pointers and finished with 18 points on the night.
His production came at a good time as starter Luke Hill, one of the team’s top shooters, is currently out for several games with an injury.
Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield scored a game-high 20 points Tuesday in the Wildcats’ win over Osawatomie.
“(Nathan) can really shoot it,” Pfannenstiel said. “He is a kid that is definitely a confident shooter and that is what is great about him. Even if he’s missed a bunch in a row, he still has that shooter’s mentality. We are going to need him to spread some teams out, especially with Luke being injured. Hopefully he will be able to help do that for us.”
Louisburg got out to a fast start and put the game away early. The Wildcats took a 20-point lead after the first quarter and led 53-17 at the half.
Senior Colyer Wingfield had another big game for the Wildcats as he finished with a team-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Junior Brady Hickey knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with nine points. Senior Trey Myers added eight with a pair of 3-pointers.
Senior Mason Dobbins was active under the basket with a team-high nine rebounds and had three assists. Sophomore Conlee Hovey had seven points and seven rebounds.
Sophomore Josh Holtzen also got his first varsity time of the season and made the most of it as he scored four points.
Louisburg sophomore Josh Holtzen was all smiles after scoring his first varsity points Tuesday in Pleasanton.
Louisburg will try for its second straight win of the tournament tonight as the Wildcats will face off with Pleasanton. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. at Pleasanton High School.
The Wildcats will end the tournament Friday with a matchup against the NEK Nighthawks, a homeschool team out of Topeka, as they try for a tournament title.
“We tell our kids to always play with effort, no matter whether you are down or up, you always have to play with effort,” Pfannenstiel said. “If you don’t, things can get really sloppy. We still have a lot that we need to work on. Obviously we looked good out there this time, but we still made mistakes out there defensively, where that has cost us games in the past. It is important that we key on those little things and do them the right way.”
Lady Cats snap losing skid with road win over Baldwin
Louisburg senior Delanie Tally goes up for two points and gets fouled Friday during the Lady Cats’ 44-27 victory at Baldwin.
BALDWIN CITY — For the second time in less than a month, the Louisburg girls basketball team put together one of their better performances of the season against Baldwin.
The Lady Cats jumped out to a double digit lead in the first quarter and never looked back in a 44-27 victory over the Bulldogs on Friday in Baldwin City. The win came at a perfect time as it ended a two game losing skid for Louisburg.
“The win against Baldwin was a needed win for our team,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “The girls were very excited to get this win. They played with confidence and they played together.
“Starting off with some quick scores definitely set the tone for the game. When we score quickly, the rest of the game is smoother.”
Louisburg (7-2) got out to the start it was looking for as the Lady Cats outscored Baldwin 16-4 to begin the game and they built on their lead from there. The Lady Cats held a 27-10 halftime advantage before the two teams played even in the second half.
Offensively, Louisburg was also able to overcome its recent struggles as the Lady Cats shot 39 percent from the floor and connected on six 3-pointers.
Senior guard Delanie Tally had a big night for Louisburg she scored a game-high 14 points and connected on three 3-pointers.
Louisburg senior Ava Baker goes up for a shot Friday at Baldwin.
“The girls played very smart on offense,” Lane said. “If our play was not working, they would reset and we would run something different. This made a huge difference with how our offense was ran and how we moved the ball. Delanie did a great job on Friday. She played with confidence and she made some great plays on both sides of the ball.”
Another senior, Adyson Ross, did a little bit of everything for Louisburg. Ross finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists.
Senior forward Ava Baker also provided big scoring off the bench with nine points, while senior Emma Prettyman was second on the team with seven rebounds.
Defensively, the Lady Cats held Baldwin to just 21 percent shooting and held one of the league’s top players — Karly Neufeld — to just four points. Louisburg also outrebounded Baldwin, 36-23.
Senior Emma Lohse pulls down an offensive rebound Friday at Baldwin.
“The girls did such a great job on defense,” Lane said. “Every player did their job and guarded their person exactly how we practiced. The girls who guarded Karly did fantastic. Our team is so lucky to have some many girls who can and will face guard when asked.”
Louisburg will try for back-to-back wins starting today as it squares off with Blue Valley West in the first round of the Tonganoxie Invitational. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
The Lady Cats will also play on Thursday and Saturday. The tournament features teams such as state-ranked Wamego, along with 5A schools in Bonner Springs and Piper.
“Our team is very excited to play in this tournament,” Lane said. “It will be good to play some different teams and to get some great experience against some really good opponents.”
LOU 16 11 8 9 — 44
BAL 4 6 8 9 — 27
LOUISBURG (7-2): Delanie Tally 5-7 1-1 14; Adyson Ross 4-13 1-2 11; Ava Baker 4-5 0-1 9; Brianne Kuhlman 2-3 0-1 4; Emma Lohse 1-4 0-0 2; Ashley Branine 1-4 0-0 2; Emma Prettyman 1-7 0-0 2. Totals: 18-46 2-5 44. 3-point field goals: 6, (Tally 3, Ross 2, Baker)
Baldwin uses big third quarter to hand Wildcats fourth-straight loss
Louisburg Mason Dobbins gets to the basket for two points Friday against Baldwin. Dobbins finished with six points and seven rebounds on the night.
BALDWIN CITY — Friday the 13th couldn’t have been more prevalent for the Louisburg boys basketball team.
The Wildcats traveled to Baldwin last Friday in hopes of avoiding some terrible luck.
Unfortunately, Louisburg experienced all that fateful day had to offer as the Wildcats struggled offensively to get anything going in a 66-31 loss to the Bulldogs.
Baldwin, which is ranked No. 9 in Class 4A, had the opposite effect. The Bulldogs blew the game open with a 34-point third quarter, and couldn’t seem to miss, as they handed the Wildcats their fourth straight setback.
“We needed to get off to a good start and we missed some good looks early on in the first quarter,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “I think if we could’ve seen the ball go through the net, that would have given us some confidence and momentum. We just never got anything going offensively. Baldwin played well. They knocked down a lot of big shots and really opened things up in the 3rd quarter.”
Louisburg (4-5) did its best to slow down the Bulldogs in the first half as the Wildcats limited them to just 22 points at halftime. Louisburg, however, had a tough time seeing the ball go through the hoop as it had just 11.
Louisburg junior Brady Hickey dribbles past a Baldwin defender Friday at Baldwin.
Baldwin put the game away in the third quarter with its big run. The Bulldogs shot 53 percent for the game and knocked down 11 3-pointers.
Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield led the team in scoring (14 points), rebounds (7) and assists (3). Senior Mason Dobbins also pulled down seven rebounds for the Wildcats and was second on the team in scoring with six points.
The Wildcats will try and snap their losing skid starting today when they travel to the Pleasanton Mid-Season Tournament. Louisburg will face Osawatomie at 5 p.m. to begin round-robin play.
They will then square off with Pleasanton on Thursday and Northeast Kansas Homeschool out of Topeka on Friday.
“This is a big week for us,” Pfannenstiel said. “I told our guys that we need to get our confidence back. We need to lock in on doing the little things right that make the difference. Hopefully our defense comes out strong and we can get into some rhythm offensively this week. We have to take a big jump forward mentally this week.”
Outside shooting, turnovers cost Wildcats in loss to Spring Hill
Louisburg senior Colyer Wingfield goes up for two points Tuesday during the Wildcats’ home contest against Spring Hill. Wingfield finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
When it came to shots inside the arc, the Louisburg boys lived well.
However, it was those attempts beyond it that hurt the Wildcats the most Tuesday in their home contest with Spring Hill. Louisburg missed all 15 attempts from the outside, which made a comeback difficult in its 48-42 loss to the Broncos
Mistakes also haunted the Wildcats as they turned the ball over 19 times, which led to 12 Spring Hill points.
“I told our guys that it’s going to be hard to win in the Frontier League with 19 turnovers and going 0-15 from the 3-point line,” Louisburg coach Ty Pfannenstiel said. “Those two stats were glaringly bad. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball and being more efficient on offense.”
The Wildcats trailed by just one after the first quarter and found themselves down just 24-17 at halftime.
Louisburg sophomore Myles Vohs gets on the floor for a loose ball Tuesday against Spring Hill.
Both teams played even in the second half and the Wildcats trimmed a double-digit Spring Hill lead to four with under a minute remaining, but couldn’t get closer.
Louisburg got a big game from senior Colyer Wingfield who finished with a double-double. Wingfield had a team-high 23 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
Junior Luke Hill finished with six points, while sophomore Myles Vohs came off the bench to give the Wildcats a lift with five points. It was his first varsity points of the season.
“I thought we had some guys come in and provide a lot of energy,” Pfannenstiel said. “Myles Vohs came in and sparked us with his effort and toughness. His effort showed that he deserves some more varsity court time.”
Louisburg will try and snap its 3-game losing skid tonight when the Wildcats travel to No. 9-ranked Baldwin. The Bulldogs handed the Wildcats their only loss prior to the holiday break last month.
“We play a really good Baldwin team (tonight), so this game is going to demand our best effort and execution,” Pfannenstiel said.
Rally falls short in Lady Cats’ home loss to Spring Hill
Louisburg senior Ava Baker goes up for a shot Tuesday during the Lady Cats’ home contest against Spring Hill.
Louisburg found itself down by as many as 15 points to Spring Hill on Tuesday at Louisburg High School.
Still, the Lady Cats didn’t let that bother them.
Instead, they put together a big run in the second half to cut the Bronco lead to just two points. However, Louisburg couldn’t get over the hump in a 47-39 setback as the Broncos handed the Lady Cats their second straight loss on the season.
“The girls did a great job fighting back after halftime,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “They showed a lot of heart and hard work. Once we got back into the game, we had a hard time pulling ahead. But I was very proud of them not to give up.
“Overall, I thought we played not to lose versus playing to win. We had some really good moments, but we also had some moments that showed areas that we need to improve in.”
Both teams got out to a good start offensively as the two squads combined for 32 points in the first quarter, but the Lady Cats had a hard time slowing Spring Hill senior Jenna Weber.
Weber scored 12 of the Broncos’ 19 points and finished with a game-high 23. Spring Hill sophomore Sydney Buscher also added a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
“Jenna is a great player,” Lane said. “She is hard to guard and does a great job getting herself open in the offense. She had a great game and I think she will continue to thrive throughout her season.”
Louisburg senior Delanie Tally passes the ball off to an open teammate Tuesday against Spring Hill.
Defensively, the Lady Cats thrived in the third quarter as they whittled an 11-point Spring Hill lead at halftime, to just three going into the fourth.
Senior Brianne Kuhlman knocked down a pair of free throws at the end of the third and Spring Hill led 34-31. Adyson Ross made it a 2-point game with an offensive rebound and a lay-up with 6:42 left in the game.
It would be as close as the Lady Cats could get as they struggled to hit shots, and free throws, down the stretch.
Louisburg shot 26 percent for the game and converted 7 of 16 free-throw attempts. Still, the Lady Cats used their defense to stay in it as they forced 16 Bronco turnovers.
The Lady Cats also did well on the glass with 17 offensive rebounds, which led to 13 second chance points.
Ross led the Lady Cats in scoring and rebounding. She finished with 11 points and eight rebounds, including six on the offensive end.
Delanie Tally also scored in double figures for Louisburg with 10 points, while senior Emma Prettyman added seven rebounds and three assists in the loss. Tally and Emma Lohse each finished with a team-high three steals.
Louisburg will try and snap its two-game losing skid tonight as the Lady Cats travel to Baldwin. The Lady Cats defeated the Bulldogs by double figures last month and Lane knows it will be a difficult test on the road.
“It is going to be tough, Baldwin will for sure be looking for some revenge and overall our team has been very inconsistent on offense since we played Baldwin last,” Lane said. “I am hoping we can have another great offensive game and get some of our confidence back.”
LOU 13 6 12 8 — 39
SH 19 11 4 13 — 47
LOUISBURG (6-2): Adyson Ross 5-15 0-3 11; Delanie Tally 4-12 0-0 10; Brianne Kuhlman 1-2 3-8 5; Emma Prettyman 1-4 2-2 4; Emma Lohse 1-5 0-1 3; Ashley Branine 1-2 0-0 2; Ava Baker 0-10 2-2 2. Totals: 13-50 7-16 39. 3-point field goals: 4, (Tally 2, Lohse, Ross)
Lady Cats suffer first loss of season at Ottawa
Louisburg senior Adyson Ross goes up for a shot and gets fouled Thursday at Ottawa High School. Ross finished with 15 points in the loss.
OTTAWA — After a successful start to its season, the Louisburg girls basketball team experienced its first hiccup of the 22-23 campaign.
The Lady Cats couldn’t overcome a rough second quarter as they fell to Ottawa, 47-31, on Thursday at Ottawa High School.
Whether it was a tough shooting night, or struggles on defense, Louisburg had a difficult time with a more physical Cyclones team.
“This was a tough game overall for us,” Louisburg coach Adrianne Lane said. “It felt like we couldn’t get anything accomplished on the defensive or offensive side of the ball. It felt like we were almost a half-second behind Ottawa on both ends of the floor.”
Louisburg (6-1) took a one-point lead going into the second quarter, but the Cyclones came to life offensively as they outscored the Lady Cats, 18-7, and took a 26-16 lead at halftime.
The Cyclones’ lead ballooned to 19 in the second half as the Lady Cats shot 22 percent from the floor.
“Ottawa was very physical and tough, and we had not seen a team that played that physical yet,” Lane said. “They did a great job pushing us out of our offense and we had a hard time getting get looks at the basket because of this. They were also very physical on the boards, Ottawa did a great job keeping us off the offensive boards.”
Louisburg senior Adyson Ross provided a bulk of the Lady Cats’ scoring as she finished with a team-high 15 points. Another senior, Emma Prettyman, had a team-best seven rebounds, while senior Delanie Tally led Louisburg with five steals.
The Lady Cats will try and bounce back tonight as they host Spring Hill. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
“Losing is tough and never the outcome we want, but we always try to learn and get better after we lose,” Lane said. “I can get better and I can help the team get better because of the loss.
LOU 9 7 9 6 — 31
OTT 8 18 13 8 — 47
LOUISBURG (6-1): Adyson Ross 6-15 1-1 15; Brianne Kuhlman 2-5 0-0 4; Emma Prettyman 1-7 2-4 4; Emma Lohse 1-8 0-0 2; Ashley Branine 1-6 0-2 2; Delanie Tally 1-9 0-2 2; Ava Baker 0-3 2-2 2. Totals: 12-55 5-11 31. 3-point field goals: 2, (Ross 2)
