AUGUSTA, Kan.—
The Augusta Orioles and Lady Orioles hosted the Abilene Cowgirls and Cowboys on Friday Night at Augusta High School’s Hutter Gymnasium.In the girls contest, Abilene had control all the way throughout the contest, but Augusta cut the deficit to one, but free throws down the stretch gave Abilene the win 32-29 in a low scoring contest.
The Cowgirls started out on an 8-0 run over the first six and a half minutes of the contest, before Augusta’s Casady Marnlee scored Augusta’s first basket of the ball game. At the end of the first quarter, Abilene was up 10-3 over the Lady Orioles. Turnovers were hurting both teams in the first quarter with 16 combined turnovers for each team, nine by Augusta and seven by Abilene.
Augusta started the second quarter on a 5-0 run to start and Abilene got its biggest lead of the game at 17-7 on a 3-pointer by Kiley Crider, but Augusta cut the deficit with a 3-pointer of its own from Kalie Robinson. The turnover margin through a half was 16 by Augusta and 15 by Abilene. Each team was shooting one of four at the free throw line in the first half.
Augusta outscored Abilene 9-7 in the third quarter on a 3-pointer by Kylie Wesbrooks which cut the deficit to 25-19.
The fourth quarter saw the Lady Orioles get back into the game. Augusta cut the deficit down to three at 27-24, but a 3-pointer by Abilene’s Gracie Sexton put the Cowgirls up 30-24 with just less than two and a half minutes left. Marnlee made a bucket to make it 30-29 Abilene with a minute left.
Crider went to the line for a one and the bonus and missed. Augusta had its opportunity but did not capitalize. Sexton was fouled with three tenths left and she hit the game-winning free throws.
“It was a low scoring game and we missed easy shots, Augusta played really good defense tonight,” Abilene coach Janelle Geist said. “We came out and took care of business.”
Augusta committed 29 turnovers to Abilene’s 35 turnovers.
Abilene was led in scoring by Crider with 11 points and Sexton added 10 points. Leading the way for Augusta was Robinson with eight points. Abilene (2-0) will have a week off to gear up for a league game at Concordia next Friday. Augusta (0-2) will travel to rival Circle on Tuesday.
Augusta boys lose 60-50
The boys’ contest between Abilene and Augusta saw a close match-up through one half. Abilene used a strong second half to secure a 64-50 win over the Orioles.
Augusta started quickly on a 3-pointer by Chase Winter to go up 3-0 not even ten seconds into the contest. The teams went back and forth with Augusta’s biggest leading being three points at 11-8. Augusta led 14-12 after one quarter.
Abilene started the second quarter on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 16 with six minutes to go in the half. Augusta regained the lead on a 3-pointer by Kyler Steinkamp to go up 19-16 which started a 7-0 run by the Orioles for a minute and a half. Abilene then used three and a half minutes to do their own run of 11-0.
Augusta’s Connor Hurst tied the game at 29 all with a basket with 15 seconds to go. Abilene took the lead into halftime with a basket with two seconds to go by Jacob Harms.
The third quarter saw Abilene come out strong with a 6-0 run at one point to go up 48-38 at the end of the third period.
Augusta got it to a close as nine points, but could not stop the Cowboys in the fourth quarter.
“Augusta outplayed us tonight, that is one thing to be disappointed about,” Abilene coach Terry Taylor said. “I’m proud of the way our kids fought back in the second half. We had a height advantage over Augusta tonight.”
Four players scoring in double-figures for the Cowboys as Andy Wilson led the way with a game-high 15 points, Keil Kelly and Jesse Patrick each chipped in 12 points and Harms added 10 points. The Orioles were led in scoring by Steinkamp with 12 points.
Abilene committed 25 turnovers to Augusta 18 turnovers in the ball game.
Abilene (3-0) will have a week off to take on league foe Concordia at Concordia next Friday, while Augusta (0-2) will travel to rival Circle on Tuesday.
