by HILLSBORO, Kan. Sometimes playing right after a break takes a team a little while to get going. Tabor used a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter, and good free throw shooting to come away with the home conference victory.
The first half both teams looked like they were still on Thanksgiving break as neither team shot well, leading to a low scoring first half. Tabor went just six for 28 in the opening half, while York shot six for 25. Both teams made just one three-point shot before the break. Tabor would take a 20-13 lead into the lockerroom thanks to their free throw shooting. The Bluejays finished the half seven for nine.
The Panthers had the better third quarter, coming out of the break and outscoring the Bluejays by 10 points, 18-8. York would take a 31-28 advantage into the fourth quarter.
Tabor started the final period of play on a 10-0 run to regain the lead by a score of 38-31. Leading by just one point with three minutes remaining, Tabor decided to take their offense down low in the paint. Using the glass, Kyli Burns (SR/Valley Center, Kan.) put Tabor up by three points with a strong move from the right block. Burns would find Zoe Shieldnight (SO/Gore, Okla.) on Tabor’s next trip down low, extending the Bluejay lead to five points with just over two minutes left in the game.
With 1:18 left in the game, York rebounded a Tabor missed three and had a chance to pull to within one or tie the game with a three. After a Panther timeout, Tabor forced a York turnover with just a minute left to play. Ashtyn Wiebe (SO/Elbing, Kan.) drew a foul out front and headed to the free throw line. Wiebe calmly drained both free throws, putting Tabor back on top by five.
Tabor rebounded another Panther miss, giving Tabor another chance to extend their lead. Kasey Rice (Pawnee) was fouled in the back court and sent to the line. Rice continued Tabor’s good shooting from the charity stripe, making both, giving Tabor their biggest lead in the second half at 48-41.
Rice found another rebound on the defensive end and converted one of two freebies with just 27 seconds left, giving the Bluejays some breathing room, leading 49-41.
Tabor would try and run the clock out, but another Panther foul sent Rice to the line one last time. Rice sank one of two chances to give Tabor the 50-41 lead. York would throw in a desperation three, leaving the final score at 50-44.
“We got to the line, Kasey in particular, which was something we wanted her to do” replied Head Coach Shawn Reed. “It was good to see her get to the line 11 times and 24 times as a team.”
Although the offensive woes are more prevalent than Reed would like, he does see spurts of the offense he knows is there. “We are our own worst enemy offensively. We were 2 of 18 as a team from three. We are trying to find things offensively but in the fourth quarter we scored 22 points so that was good.”
Today in the fourth quarter, many of Tabor’s players showed well. “I thought Kyli played a really good fourth quarter, real aggressively. So did Zoe and Kasey and others.”
The win moved Tabor’s KCAC record to 4-2 and evened their overall record at 5-5.
Team Leaders: Points: Kasey Rice 16, Rebounds: Hannah Gilmore (JR/Cedaredge, Colo.) and Kasey Rice 8, Steals: Ashtyn Wiebe 3, Assists: Wiebe and Alli Stayathome (FR/Tahlequah, Okla.) 2.
Up Next: The Bluejays will travel to Kansas City, Missouri to face off with the Avila Lady Eagles on Thursday, December 5. The game will start at 6:00 pm.
