by Tabor Athletics
HILLSBORO, Kan. Looking to rebound from a two-game skid, Tabor was anxious to get back on the floor Saturday as they hosted the Friends University Falcons in a KCAC matchup. The Bluejays rode their always tough defense to victory, defeating Friends 62-47 in Hillsboro.
Both teams started the contest trying to establish the inside game as shots inside were the norm early. Hannah Gilmore (SR/Cedaredge, Colo.) put Tabor on the scoreboard first after she grabbed her own miss for the putback. Lexi Wall (SO/Mounds, Okla.) hit the only three of the first period from the right wing in front of the Falcons bench. Nerves seemed to get the best of both teams early as neither team could find the basket consistently and the first period ended in a 10-10 tie.
After a quick Falcon bucket to start the second period Tabor used a 5-0 run to grab a 15-12 lead with 6:26 left in the period. Tabor’s defense would put the clamps of the Falcons offense, not allowing Friends’ next bucket until the quarter was over half gone.
A Falcon free throw cut Tabor’s lead to just one (16-15) before Laney Swink (JR/Fort Gibson, Okla.) connected on Tabor’s second three-point shot of the game, extending the Bluejay lead back to four (19-15). Zoe Shieldnight (JR/Gore, Okla.)’s first two of the game put Tabor up 21-15 on Tabor’s next possession.
Swink’s drive in the lane resulted in a pretty dish to Hannah Gilmore for a bucket on Tabor’s next possession. Tristen Lasker (SR/Conway, Ark.) leaked out for an easy break away on the next trip for the Bluejays, putting Tabor up 25-15 with 1:30 left in the opening half.
Friends’ layup with 1:00 left in the period pulled Friends to within eight at 25-17. Tabor had a chance to extend the lead back to double digits at the half but came up empty on their last possession of the first 20 minutes of play.
“We defended will in the first half and the fourth quarter but in the third quarter we fouled too much and weren’t disciplined with our defensive principles” commented Head Coach Shawn Reed.
Gilmore started Tabor with a bucket and a free throw before Sammy Jo Peterson (SR/Cottonwood Falls, Kan.) got into the act on the offensive end with a deep three from the far right wing. Peterson’s three gave Tabor their biggest lead up to that point (31-19) just two minutes into the second half of play.
Tabor would continue the shots from deep as Kasey Rice (Pawnee Nation of Okla.) found an open Lexi Wall for her second of the game. Rice decided it was her turn on the Bluejays next possession as she used a strong drive on the baseline to score the bucket, putting Tabor up 36-21 with 6:00 left in the quarter.
Rice put Tabor up 15 (38-23) with another strong drive on Tabor’s next possession before getting a break midway through the period.
Two Peterson free throws coupled with a nice drop step move inside by Alyvia Owens (FR/Hutchinson, Kan.) pushed the Bluejay lead to 17 (42-25) with just over three minutes left in the stanza.
Friends wouldn’t go away as they used a 10-4 run over the last three minutes of the period to pull to within 11 points (46-35) of the Bluejays heading into the final quarter of play.
“I was pleased with our offensive play early in the third quarter that pushed our lead out to 17 points” said Reed. “But we struggled with shot selection in the fourth and that, coupled with some defensive breakdowns, let Friends back in the game.”
The Falcons started the final quarter on a 4-0 run before Alyvia Owens grabbed an offensive rebound and connected with Peterson for a pull up jumper from the left elbow, stopping the Falcons run. Tabor had a 48-39 lead with just under eight minutes left in the contest.
Tabor could only manage two points over the first half of the period before Hannah Gilmore made a strong move to the basket, drawing the foul. Gilmore connected on both free throws, giving Tabor some breathing room with the score standing at 50-43.
The Bluejays decided to go inside to Gilmore again and it paid off. Another strong move resulted in an old-fashioned three-point play with 4:03 left and Tabor up 53-45.
The Bluejays employed some token full court pressure to make the Falcons burn some clock. Tabor forced up a bad shot but an unlucky bounce gave the ball back to Friends. The Bluejays would force a jump ball, giving them the possession.
Tabor couldn’t convert on their next possession but their grit on the defensive end stopped the Falcons once again, allowing Tabor to maintain the eight point lead.
Tristen Lasker’s quick three on the other end put Tabor up 56-45 with 2:00 even left on the clock. The shot by Lasker pretty much ended any hope of a Falcons comeback and Tabor earned the tough home win by a final score of 62-47.
“I was pleased that we were able to refocus and extend our lead and win the game” replied Reed. “This was only our fifth game of the season and after an extended break due to COVID-19 we’re still trying to find our way.”
Overall, Reed saw some good things from several players, but also spotted some areas they will need to shore up before heading to Sterling on Monday. “I thought we did a good job of taking care of the basketball against their pressure. I thought Hannah, Zoe and Kasey all played well. Lexi shot the ball well from deep and I was pleased with our three point shooting overall.”
As for the areas that need work, Reed noted on in particular; “We gave up too many offensive rebounds to a tall Friends team.”
The win moved Tabor’s record to 3-2 overall and they improved their KCAC record to 2-1.
