Lady Longhorns split weekend

The Lady Longhorns started the weekend off like they are accustomed to with a win over visiting Sutherland Friday night putting up a final score of 65-48 on the home court score board, but then a rare falter on the road to North Platte St Pats Saturday, losing 61-52 in the battle of two state ranked teams .

Madison Biesecker got the Horns started Friday night hitting a 16 footer and following that seconds later with a rebound put-back basket and Kimball took a 14-9 1st quarter-lead, were on top 30-24 at half time, then picked it up in the second half to coast to the win. The officials had an attraction to freshman Kate Reader as she picked up her 3rd foul just over mid-way of the second quarter, got her fourth foul mid-way through the 3rd period, and saw her share of bench time.

The Lady Horns were playing good team ball and had 3 players finish in double figures led by Alex Reader with 18 including 4 treys. She also pulled 3 rebounds, had 4 steals and 2 assists. Madison Biesecker finished with 15 points and had 2 treys along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Despite seeing quite a bit of sit-time, Kate Reader still charted 13 points on 5/6 shooting from the field and 3/3 foul shooting. She also led the team in rebounds with 8 and had 4 steals. Danika Daum had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Arica McCloud had 5 points with a trey, Myriah Tyan 3, and Shauntae Daily 2.

In team stats, Kimball had only 11 turnovers, 15 fouls, 15 steals, 10 assists, shot 16/21 at the foul line, 21/60 from the field going 14/38 on 2 point attempts and 7/22 on 3 pointers. They also pulled 12 offensive and 13 defensive rebounds and gave up 30 rebounds to the visitors. Sutherland also had 17 fouls, were 7/11 at the line, 5/12 on 3 pointers,~d 13/34 on 2 point tries.

The Lady Sailors had 10 players in the scoring columns with only Bailee Fear in double figures with 14. Havven Schuster and Kayla Bush were next in line with 6 each.

Once again coach Chauncey Pedersen talked team play from his club as they ran their record to 15-2.

Kimball 14 16 9 12---65

Sutherland 9 15 13 11---48

The Lady Horns got off to a great start against the Irish leading 12-0 and were on top 12-5 at the quarter break. I think coach Pedersen and his girls would like to forget the second quarter as they were outscored 24-6. Kimball came back to outscore the hosts by 2 in the second half, but it was too little, too late! The Lady Irish avenged their loss just a week earlier in the championship game of the SPVA Tournament when the Lady Horns won out 54-53.

“We simply let this one get away from us” said coach Pedersen.

Three players in double figures for Kimball with Danika Daum hitting her average and leading the Horns in scoring with 19. She nailed 5 three pointers. Kate Reader finished with 14 and was 7/9 from the field along with leading the team in rebounds with 7 and steals with 4 and matched Biesecker in assists with 3. Biesecker had 11 points with a trey and was 6/8 at the line. McCloud and Alex Reader had 4 points each.

In team stats the Horns had 14 turnovers, 19 fouls, 6 offensive and 10 defensive rebounds, 9 steals, 4 blocks, 6 assists, were 10/13 at the foul line, 18/51 on field goals, including 6/20 on 3 point attempts.

With the loss, Kimball takes a win-loss record of 15-3 into Western Trails Conference play this week. They open play tonight with a first round game at Kimball~ seeded number 3,and hosting number

6 seed Bridgeport with tip time set for 5 p.m. The winner advances to semi final play at Cougar Palace in Scottsbluff to face the winner of the Mitchell-Bayard game at 6 p.m. on Friday night. The tournament winds up on Saturday at Cougar Palace. Hemingford is the number 1 seed with a first round bye in the upper bracket and Mitchell is the number 2 seeded team in a 7 team bracket that features 3 state ranked teams including Hemingford, Mitchell, and Kimball.

Kimball 12 6 15 19---52

St Pats 5 24 15 17---61