Garden Plain at Sterling: A Clash of Class 2A Top 5 Teams

The 3-1 defending Class 3A state champion Garden Plain Owls were hosted by the 2-2 Sterling Black Bears December 13. Following classification consolidation that reduced the number of Kansas classes to six, Garden Plain entered the 2018-19 season as the top ranked team in Class 2A while Sterling was ranked fifth. The contest figured to provide a preview of teams who might see each other again at the state tournament. Garden Plain's Abby Gordon soars for two against Sterling. Garden Plain quickly fell behind as the Black Bears led 11-4 at the end of the first quarter. Sterling used its speed to pressure full court and keep the Owls from finding a rhythm. Signs of a change of momentum were shown as the Owls entered halftime down only 20-18 with 6’0” junior forward Abby Gordon keeping them in the game with her scoring, post defense, and rebounding. Gordon would finish the game a perfect 9-for-9 from the line with five assists. The third quarter was a tight battle throughout as 5’9” senior guard Lauren Danahy, who had nine quiet points at the half, began to assert herself. With just under a minute to go Garden Plain took its first lead. Garden Plain's Lauren Danahy attacks the basket against Sterling. Breaking the tied score of 36 to start the fourth the Owls took control of the game. Together with 5’2” senior guard Kara Heimerman’s passing and freethrow shooting, 5’11” junior Natasha Dooley’s rebounding, and Gordon’s scoring, Danahy showed her strong all-around game and floor generalship to lead Garden Plain to a 54-48 victory. Danahy would finish with 21 points including four three-pointers. Remarkably Garden Plain went perfect from the line until under a minute to go in the game. Missing three of four the Owls would finish 20 for 23. Sterling's Kali Briar works against Garden Plain's backcourt pressure. Sterling got terrific games from 5’7” junior Kinzie Comley, 5’10” sophomore Kayla Morris, 5’5” sophomore Kidist Wilson, and 5’4” freshmen Makenna Linden and Kali Briar. Comley led the Black Bears with 14 points including a pair of threes. She also drew the late difficult task of defending the hot Danahy. Garden Plain’s size created substantial rebounding problems but Morris, Comley, and Linden collected nearly half a dozen rebounds apiece. Wilson was steady, quick, patient, and showed the ability to create her own shot. Briar was a major problem for the Owls. Finishing with 12 points, including 2 threes, Briar showed terrific ball-handling skills, including a quick crossover move, and the ability to finish in traffic. She would also end with three assists and a steal.