Lady Longhorns lose to Mitchell

Another three game week for the Kimball High girls, and another 1 point loss to Mitchell, but bounce-back wins over Pine Bluffs and Bridgeport. It started out with a Tuesday night trip to Mitchell and a devastating 51-50 loss to Mitchell in double overtime, but the Kimball ladies carne back with a Friday night home court win over pine Bluffs 51-40 and a win on the road at Bridgeport 46-36, leaving them with an overall record of 11-6 going into this week's Western Trails Conference Tournament play.

You might recall that Kimball lost to Mitchell on the home court back in early January by a score of 44-43 in a regulation game and this time it was 1 point again but it took two overtime periods to decide the outcome. It didn't look like it was going to be close this time as the Lady Tigers jumped out to a 17-9 first quarter lead, were on top 30-19 at half time and actually trailed 40-25 late in the third period.

To the credit of the Kimball girls and coach Pedersen, they didn't ever let down as they battled back hard in the fourth quarter to outscore the hosts 18-6 with Jessica Hanks nailing a long trey with 2.7 seconds left in regulation to tie the contest at 46-46 and send it into overtime. Nailing treys was something Hanks was doing on a regular basis in the Mitchell game as she finished with 5, including 4 in the second half! The sharp shooting junior swished her first 3 pointer in the 1st quarter, hit another one at the end of the 3rd period, then sank 3 more in the 4th period. In fact, the 3 point fielder played a big role in Kimball's scoring on the night as the team finished with 10 total with Shelby Vogel charting 4 from behind the arc, and Kelly Green getting 1.

In the first overtime period, both teams managed but one basket as Danika Daum took a feed from Vogel and sank a 16 footer to tie it once again at 48-48 sending it into the second overtime. Mitchell converted 3 free throws to go out 51-48 before Vogel made a driving 14 footer to close to 51-50. Kimball had their chances as time was running out , grabbing a big rebound, but then turning it right back over. Mitchell missed on 2 free throws with Daum getting the rebound and the Lady Horns called time with 12.7 left but Vogel's shot was just off center as it went off the rim and Daum's rebound and put back shot failed as well and their fate was sealed, but what a great come back effort.

Vogel ended up with 19 points to pace Kimball,hitting 4 treys and going 3/4 at the line. She also pulled 9 rebounds, had 2 steals, and an assist. Hanks had 15 points on her 5 treys, with 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 assist and 1 block. Daum had 8 points with 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Green had 5 points on her trey and 2 for 2 foul shooting plus 3 rebounds. Brooke Hager had 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 assist.

In team stats, Kimball was 6/7 at the line, 17/62 from the field going 10/28 on 3 pointers, had 23 rebounds with 8 offensive, 10 steals, 6 assists, and 1 blocked shot. They also had 17 fouls, and 16 turnovers.

Mitchell out rebounded Kimball by 9 with 23 total, had 8 fouls, were 9/18 at the line, and 20/51 from the field going 2/3 on 3 point attempts. Aspen Reifschneider WgS high with 13, Kady Lower had 12, Taylor Peters 9, Celeste Cardona and Felina Blanco 4 each, and McKenna Zulkoski 2. There is a good chance these two teams will meet up again this week in the WTC tournament.

Kimball 09 10 09 18 02 04 --50

Mitchell 17 13 10 06 02 05 --51

The win over Pine Bluffs was a repeat win as Kimball came out on top in January at the Hornet's Nest as well. A good week for Vogel as she led the scoring in the win over Pine with 17 points going 2/3 on treys. She also was top rebounder with 13 for her double-double. Hanks hit double figure scoring with 14 and was 3/5 on 3 pointers, had 5 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal. Laura Flores 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists. Brooke Hager 5 points with a trey, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist.

In team stats, Kimball was 7/15 at the line, 25/77 from the field going 6/20 on 3 point attempts, had 40 rebounds with 12 offensive, 2 blocks, 8 steals, 9 assists, 17 fouls, and 21 turnovers.

Pine Bluffs was 13/22 at the line, had 1 trey and 12 2 point field goals, 15 fouls. They were led in scoring by D. Mullins with 11, A. Baker 9, and S. Hanson 8.

Kimball 13 14 12 12 -- 51

Pine Bluffs 09 12 10 09 -- 40

Second win of the season for the Lady Horns over Bridgeport as well and another big night for Miss Vogel as she led the win with 18 points hitting a pair of treys in 4 attempts and shooting a very good 8/10 on 2 point attempts. She also led in steals with 7. Daum back in double figure scoring with 16 along with 5 rebounds. Green had 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Hager 2 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Brianna Jones 2 points, and Arica McCloud 2 points.

Kimball shot 7/15 at the line, 21/50 from the field going 3/10 on treys, had 18 rebounds with 6 offensive, 17 steals, 6 assists, 1 block, 25 turnovers, and 15 fouls.

Bridgeport had 15 field goals with 1 trey, were 5/14 at the line, and had 10 fouls. K. Kildow was the only player in double figures with 10 with C. Mitchell and M. Dudden both with 8.

Kimball 15 13 13 05 -- 46

Bridgeport 10 07 13 06 -- 36

The Kimball girls will host their first round game of the 2014 Western Trails Conference Tournament and are the #3 seed facing #6 seed Bayard in the 7 p.m. game at the Kimball High gymnasium tonight (Thursday). Their game will follow the Kimball boys' game vs. Gordon/Rushville that has a 5:30 p.m. start time.