By RON PRESTON
Reflector-Chronicle
WAMEGO – Nearly every successful Hollywood movie has a sequel or two.
Feb. 8 in Abilene the original Sister Act was showing in the Abilene gymnasium and Friday night the sequel, Sister Act II, played to the crowd in the Wamego Red Raiders gym.
There was no sight of Whoopi Goldberg, but the Page sisters were staring again in a 63-34 North Central Kansas League basketball victory for Wamego over the Abilene Cowgirls.
“It was the sister act again tonight, they just shoot the ball so well, it’s hard to guard them. They’re so tall and physical and basketball savvy.” said Cowgirl Coach Janelle Geist following the game.
The Lady Raiders took control of the game quickly in the first quarter by limiting the Cowgirls to two field goals and a free throw all by Kurstin Guy.
The Raiders led by 14 points at the end of one 19-5.
The second quarter saw a Cowgirl comeback attempt early only to see Wamego’s Kaylee and Lanie Page pull out all the stops and outscore the Cowgirls 23-15 to end the first half 42-20.
Abilene’s Belle Barbieri scored 5 of her team high 11 points in the second quarter with some good looks under the basket and key assists from Gracie Sexton.
The third quarter saw the pressure defense continue from the Lady Raiders causing Abilene turnovers and missed scoring opportunities.
“We turned the ball over so many times that the game just got away from us,” said coach Geist.
Both teams scored 10 points in the third period with the Raiders in a commanding 52-30 lead.
The Lady Raiders held the Cowgirls scoreless in the fourth quarter until the 2:50 mark.
Kaylee Page, who led scorers with 28 points, shot her last bucket, a 3 pointer just outside the left arc to lead 63-30 and both coaches put in substitutes to finish playing the contest.
Barbieri scored two inside shots for the Cowgirls to end the game with the Lady Raiders winning 63-34.
“They’re just a really good basketball team and that’s the story,” added coach Geist.
Next week the Cowgirls return home for two games. Tuesday night is a non-league contest with Hays High School and Thursday night they will host Clay Center in a NCKL game on senior night for the Cowgirls.
“Two big games for us next week, tough games, with Hays on Tuesday and Clay Center on Thursday. We’ll prepare for them and just see what happens,” concluded coach Geist.
Wamego 63, Abilene 34
Abilene 5 15 10 4 – 34
Wamego 19 23 10 11 – 63
Abilene: Geist 6, Guy 5, Sexton 5, Crider 4, Barbieri 11, Taylor 3.
Wamego: K. Page 28, Alderson 8, L. Page 17, Rowden 4, Seufert 6.
