MULVANE, Kan.—
Rebounding was the name of the game Saturday in Mulvane. Wellington held control most of the way and came away with the 39-33 tournament championship win over Garden Plain.From the opening tip, it appeared as though Wellington would have its way against the Lady Owls. Wellington won the opening tip and ran its offense for the entire first minute and a half. It took three shots and grabbed two offensive rebounds.
Garden Plain didn’t have much of an answer, as it could never get its way into a rhythm in the first or second quarter.
“Garden Plain is a really good rebounding team,” said Wellington coach Kevin Hackerott. “We had some opportunities to grab some offensive boards and our girls went and competed real hard because we aren’t the biggest team.”
Garden Plain definitely held the advantage in the size aspect of the game. Three girls were taller than all but one of Wellington’s players. It was the post players that led both teams in scoring.
Garden Plain’s Sierra Hays finished with 14 points, as did Wellington’s Dani Anderson. Anderson was named to the all-tournament team.
Although Wellington held the momentum, it could never pull away or close out the Lady Owls. Wellington ran its offense efficiently, but Garden Plain played scrappy ball and stayed close throughout the entire game.
“We had some silly fouls there toward the end and let some rebounds get away from us,” said Hackerott. “We had some trouble closing it out, but Garden Plain is good. We made enough free throws and enough plays late to get it done.”
Garden Plain was down 24-18 going into the fourth quarter. It chipped and chipped away at the lead until it was down just 32-31 after a made layup by Alli Heimerman. She drew the foul and had the opportunity to tie it up, but couldn’t convert the three-point play.
With just under a minute left, Garden Plain had another opportunity to take its first lead of the game. The Lady Crusaders were up by just two points as Garden Plain called a timeout.
Garden Plain ran the in-bounds play and got the ball to Noelle Dooley, who stepped behind the arc to take the shot for the lead, but the ball banked off the backboard and into the hands of Wellington’s Ashlyn Whaley, who was promptly fouled.
Whaley missed the first of two free throws, but sank the second to essentially ice the game for the Lady Crusaders.
“We don’t have the biggest girls, but they have big heart,” said Hackerott. “You saw two teams with tired legs, but we were fortunate to come out with a win.”
