By RON PRESTON

Reflector-Chronicle

SALINA – The Abilene Cowgirls were forced to play a run - and - gun game with the Salina South Lady Cougars in the semi finals of the SIT Wednesday night in Salina. The Cougars used a 13 point advantage at end of the first quarter to fend off the Cowgirls 63 – 48.

South used second chance shooting shots off of offensive rebounds, a fast break offense and timely three point shooting to gain the early lead and never stopped their aggressive physical play on both ends of the court to advance to the SIT finals Saturday.

“Story of the game was, we let them play their game.” Cowgirl Coach Janelle Geist commented after the game.

“We talked about keys to winning this game were to box out and get rebounds, but South had those second chance scoring opportunities and made them count,” coach Geist added.

The Cougars jumped off to the early lead in the first quarter behind the shooting Emilee Holloway and Emily Webb, who both scored 7 points in first period.

Abilene trimmed the lead to 10 points at half 31 – 21 with more aggressive play and making five of nine from the free throw line.

The second half saw the Cowgirls cut the lead to single digits at one point and then South applied a pressing man- to - man defense and created Cowgirl turnovers and missed shots.

“I just wished we would have competed a little better,” coach Geist said.

Gracie Sexton and Belle Barbieri led the Cowgirls with 16 points each. Sexton was perfect at the line with a 7 for 7 performance. Kiley Crider added 6 points and Carly Gassman shot in 5.

The Cowgirls fall to 8-3 and will face Andover at 6:30 p.m. in the third place game at the Bi-Centennial Center.

SIT scores for the day:

Concordia 46, Sacred Heart 45

Clay Center 51, Smoky Valley 19

Salina Central 44, Andover 37

Salina South 63, Abilene 48

Salina South 63, Abilene 48

Abilene (8-3) 10 11 12 15 – 48

South (9-2) 23 8 17 15 - 63

Abilene: Gassman 5, Guy 3, Sexton 16, Crider 6, Barbieri 16, Taylor 2.

Salina South: Mitchell 6, M. Holloway 19, E. Holloway 11, Webb 12, Cook 6, Huffman 4, Haynes 5