By VINCE LOVERGINE
TopSports.news
Cair Paravel Latin girls basketball had trouble all night trying to break Wabaunsee’s defensive pressure, resulting in a home 54-13 Flint Hills defeat Tuesday night.
“Being able to talk about the things that we didn’t execute is important,” CPLS coach Jaley Barkley said. “One of the goals I have for this second part of the season is I want to execute our offense specifically because we have great defense.
"We hustle and work hard, but not being able to succumb to the pressure. Wabaunsee was all over us, so being able to slow down because when we do that, we can take good shots, take care of the ball… and be able to adapt.”
Wabaunsee was all over CPLS in the open court with presses and traps, forcing turnovers and bad shots for the Lions.
The Chargers jumped out to an 8-0 lead after Reese Michaelis hit her second 3-pointer of the night, forcing a timeout for CPLS with 5:17 left in the first.
The lead would only expand more for the Chargers, as they got out to a 16-0 lead after a Talen Orton bucket, causing CPLS to call another timeout while trying to find any answers. Orton finished with 10 points.
Michaelis would nail her third three of the game after the timeout making it 19-0 and the Chargers ended the first quarter up 23-0, holding the Red Lions scoreless after eight minutes.
It wouldn’t be until the 5:59 mark of the second quarter when senior KellyAnn Chada took a trip to the charity stripe and made one of two shots, making it a 23-1 score.
After a Charger basket Chada drew a foul and made one of two shots from the free throw line again.
Wabaunsee made the only two field goals in the quarter until senior Karsyn Hastert kissed one off the glass for two but missed the and-one opportunity and it was 27-4 at that point.
Chada would convert another bucket off a fastbreak steal from the Lions but the Chargers had a commanding lead at the break, 31-6.
The Lions had no answer for the Chargers, as Wabaunsee consistently trapped CPLS in the open court, the post and on the perimeter, forcing several turnovers.
CPLS did create many turnovers for itself, showing hustle despite the score.
“The game was tough, we got down early and for them (players) to keep their heads up and continue to be aggressive and do what I ask of them on the defensive end, I’m super proud of them for that,'' Barkley said. "Coming off of Christmas break, both sides I could tell were tired and the ability to play all four quarters with there all, I’m proud of that,” Barkley said.
In the third quarter Kameron Welshans for CPLS got the scoring started but that would be the only bucket. Michaelis for Wabanunsee drilled her fourth three-pointer of the game, finishing with five total in the game making it 34-8 and ending with 14 points.
The Chargers would convert two, and-one opportunities later in the quarter and led 45-8, resulting in a running clock in the fourth quarter, where both teams pulled their starters and emptied the benches.
Grace Zeller for Wabaunsee led all scorers with 18 points.
“Halftime we talked about not keeping our heads down, we got two more quarters, it’s 0-0, taking what we learned from the first half, changing our approach and adapting. I just want the girls to make those basketball plays and take charge out there,” Barkley said.
WABAUNSEE 54 , CAIR PARAVEL LATIN 13
Wabaunsee 23 8 14 9 -- 54
Cair Paravel Latin 0 6 2 5 -- 13
Wabaunsee (6-1) – Grace Zeller 6 5-7 18, Kirwin Russell 2 0-2 5, Reese Michaels 5 0-0 14, Talen Orton 4 2-3 10, Edan Schrader 3 1-2 7
Cair Paravel Latin (3-4) – Karsyn Hastert 1 0-3 2, Avery Rosenow 2 0-0 2, Becca Gateley 1 0-0- 3, Kameron Welshans 2 0-0 2, Kelly Ann Chada 2 2-6 4
3-point goals – Wabaunsee 6 (Zeller 1, Russell 1, Michaelis 4), Cair Paravel Latin 1 (Gateley 1). Total fouls – Wabaunsee 11, Cair Paravel Latin 10. Fouled out – none. Technical foul -- none
