Mulvane 51, Campus 34
Mulvane senior Elise Gerlach's fervent personality shined through as she laid out a description of the Wildcats' 51-34 triumph over Campus in the Mulvane Wildcat Classic.
“I think we started out playing really hard, then we got a little lackadaisical, and were like 'Eh, we're up,' but then we're like 'Oh, no! We've got to get it back together!'” Gerlach said. “We just got it back together, started playing hard and working as a team again.”
The game was chaotic. In 9-1/2 minutes, the teams had combined for 19 turnovers and 15 fouls. Mulvane was pulling away with a 17-8 edge, although all 17 points came from two players.
In what was at one point a 9-8 Mulvane lead, the Wildcats strung together 19 straight points to burst ahead 28-8. Campus (3-8) was scoreless the entire second quarter until Anna Barnum drilled a buzzer beating 3-pointer.
“We were just working on spreading out, getting open shots more and not rushing it,” said Mulvane's Destynee Donaldson.
Gerlach was disruptive throughout. She scored 23 points, then hustled on defense for four steals. Donaldson did much of her damage in the first half, where she contributed 15 of her 16 total points. She also tacked on seven rebounds and two steals. KaSandra Melick had six points and six rebounds.
Brianna Bosley topped Campus' score sheet with seven points. Reagan Brown rounded up a game-high 13 rebounds off the bench.
The Wildcats forced 24 turnovers, but their own offense became erratic as the second half wore on.
“I think we were just rushing a lot and rushing a lot of our passes,” Donaldson said. “We just get excited when we get steals, and turn it right back over. It's just 'slow down and make sure they're open.'”
Mulvane (8-3) moves on to a familiar opponent for the semifinals on Thursday. The Wildcats face off with Clearwater, a team that defeated them a week ago. Donaldson said Mulvane defended Bryna Vogel well, but could not get buckets to fall on offense.
It is a de facto revenge opportunity.
“I think it is,” Gerlach said. “Show 'em what we got.”
Clearwater 42, Winfield 33
With Winfield being pesky, Clearwater's Bryna Vogel stepped her game up another notch.
“I just got my head in the game and made sure I worked harder,” Vogel said.
Celina Banks cut Clearwater's edge to 32-29 in the middle of the fourth quarter. Quickly, the Indians were comfortably ahead again after a bucket from Vogel put them up 36-29. With just over two minutes remaining, Vogel took a sideline inbounds pass as she cut to the hoop. Some contact made her fall, but she maintained her dribble, stood up and chipped in another field goal to put the Indians up nine.
Seconds later, she was fouled after she blocked a shot and collected the rebound on defense. In turn, she drained two free throws and extended the lead to 11.
Vogel finished with a game-high 24 points. Brooke Winter added nine more for Clearwater. Abby Bertholf scored 10 to lead Winfield.
Although the Mulvane versus Campus game had yet to get started, Vogel was excited by the idea of another clash with the Wildcats, a team the Indians (7-3) held off a week ago.
“Hopefully we get them, but they're going to have a chip on their shoulder because they'll want to beat us even more,” she said.
Winfield (3-7) will face Campus on Thursday.
Monday's results
Garden Plain 66, Ark City 27
Garden Plain (10-1) will face Wellington (7-3) on Thursday in the semifinals. The winner will challenge the victor of the Mulvane versus Clearwater contest for the tournament title on Saturday.
Wellington 47, Wichita Defenders 31
The Defenders (10-9) will take on Ark City (0-11) on Thursday.
