CONCORDIA –The Cowgirls took a trip to Concordia Friday and 47 points later walked off the court adding a win to their undefeated record for the start of the 2012-2013 season. 23 points against Concordia was Abilene’s Kiley Crider, who was top scorer for the girls.
“Kiley Crider had a great, great game for us,” Abilene coach Janelle Geist said. “Also, the way we played great defense was key to our win because it took things away that they were trying to do.”
The Cowgirls went to the Panthers home court, known as one of the hardest courts to play on in the North Central Kansas League due to their tough crowd and band, and defeated the Panthers 47-30.
A large part of the win for the Cowgirls, Geist said, was not just their great defense or the high amount of points that Crider scored on the night, but it was the Cowgirls ability to hold their composure during the game.
“I think when we got into the fourth quarter,” Geist said, “instead of losing our heads and panicking, we just kept our composure and set up a good offense and had some good possessions late in the game.”
Geist said for the Concordia game, the girls prepared in practice by practicing their offense with tough pressure, because the girls knew that Concordia had tough man-to-man pressure. However, the Cowgirls focused more on their defense in practice.
The Cowgirls started the game with a tie 13-13, and at halftime the Cowgirls pulled ahead and by five points, 22-17. In the third quarter The Cowgirls outscored the Panthers by one point and a sixpoint lead going into the fourth.
The last quarter, the Cowgirls expanded their lead and the Panthers had to start fouling to get the ball. The Cowgirls made free-throws late in the game when the Panthers had to foul, and score 18 points to win the game.
“My girls are just taking care of business,” Geist said. “We are not winning by a lot of points, but we are winning and I thought this was a real solid game for us.”
The Cowgirls, 4-0, play again on Tuesday against their rival, the Chapman Lady Irish in the AHS gym.
Abilene 47, Concordia 30
Abilene 13 9 7 18 — 47
Concordia 13 4 6 7 — 30
Abilene—Geist 5, Guy 5, Sexton 6, Crider 23, Barbieri 6, Taylor 3.
Concordia—Metro 2, Blankenbeckley 9, Leiszler 4, James 15.
