After Fridays victory over Mount St Mary the Lady Redskins found themselves with a date with class 6A, Del City. Saturday afternoon’s match would be the consolation finals of the Harrah Tournament. After finding the win column the previous day a win here would be great.
Kassie Bailey set the tone early in the first by holding her ground and taking a charge in the lane. This has been her calling card for the entire tournament.
She is still not 100% healthy after an ongoing bout with bronchitis. The girls from Del City had a plan of pressuring the Lady Redskins to bring the ball up the court. They were quick and athletic and it worked. Coach Chad Rumer’s team struggled and turned to Dana Wagnon for the lion’s share of ball handling.
It was physical and for the most part she was ready for it. She found Bohannon under the goal for what looked to be an obvious goal and a foul.
This was wiped out by a walking violation. Later Bohannon did connect and this time no whistle. Later Pressley McKnight connected for three and the ladies clung to a 11 to 6 lead. Wagnon had another assist to Bohannon for a goal underneath. Bohannon had another goal wiped out again by a walking call. Bailey took another charging foul with 8 seconds to go in the quarter. Lady Redskins had a 2 point advantage after one, 13 to 11.
In the second Del City went on a 10-0 run and took the lead at 21 to 13, before Mcknight stopped the bleeding with two good free throws. Bohannon also responded with a two point goal. Ryan Herndon made herself known with a three pointer and the deficit was cut to 5, 25 to 20. Kamry Bohannon hit two free throws and cut the lead to two points with 24 seconds in the half.
Third quarter action Del City opened up with a three point dagger. Britt Henderson responded with two free throws and added a field goal seconds later. The lead was down to three.
At the 3:30 mark, Bohannon missed on a field goal attempt but was fouled. She converted both free throws. Bailey was good on a three attempt and cut the lead to 1, 34 to 33. Del City responded with a quick field goal.
The next trip down Bailey finds Bohannon (K) in the corner for three. Game tied at 36 all with 1:53 left. Del City regained the lead with 59 sec. to go in the quarter. Henderson responded with a field goal in the paint to tie the game again with 38 sec. to go.
Bailey drives the lane for a bucket and a foul. She converted and the Ladies take a 42 to 38 lead with 19 sec. left. Del City missed on their three point attempt.
Henderson starts the quarter off with a floater in the lane. The lead now up to 6. Del City still fighting, hits for 3. After a scrum under the defensive basket, Bailey was fouled and converted both free throws.
Lead now at 46 to 41 with 6:20 left to play. With 4:40 to go, Del City connects for three and the game was tied. Wagnon responded going coast to coast for a layup. DC responds with another three. Next time down, DC scores a layup, and now lead 51 to 48. After a missed shot and a run out they scored again. Lead now 53 to 48.
Next possession the Lady Redskins had five shots and could not get it to go down. Henderson was fouled however and converted two free throws. The lead was cut to 4. DC was sent to the line with 1:38 to go and converted one of two. Back come the Lady Redskins, Bohannon (T) scored inside to cut the lead to 3. 1:19 to go and Rumer calls time out. The Lady Redskins, needing to foul to get the ball back, put DC back on the line and they made one of two with 47 second left in game.
The next possession came up dry and they fouled quickly again. This time the DC girls took full advantage by hitting both and held a 57 to 52 lead. Coach Rumer’s ladies could not find the basket and DC converted once more to bring the final score to 59 to 52.
After the game Coach Rumer commented on the game and the tournament, “We played really good competition this weekend. We need to get better play out of our guards and not turn the ball over to be more successful. But it was a good learning experience for us.”
Game final stats: Britt Henderson had 11 points including going 5 of 5 from the line, Tyla Bohannon had 10 points including two of two from the line, Kassie Bailey with 10 points and five of five from the line, Kamry Bohannon had 7 and was two of two free throws.
Next was Wagnon with 6 points followed by Pressley McKnight had a three point goal and two of two from the line. Ryan Herndon also had a three pointer. As a team they were 16 of 19 from the line for 84%.
The girls will play again on Thursday at Broken Bow at 6:30 p.m.