The state-bound 24-1 St. John Lady Tigers basketball team increased their winning streak to 24 with commanding wins over the Minneola Wildcats 56-29 in semi-round action and the Satanta Lady Indians 56-36 in the championship round at the Dodge City 1A sub-state held in the Civic Center last Friday and Saturday evenings.
Those two wins earned the Tigers a fourth seeded berth, matching up against the fifth seeded 23-2 Frankfort Wildcats in the 1A Kansas State basketball tournament held in the Hays Gross Memorial Coliseum this Wednesday at 4:45 p.m.
“My team is amazing! We are looking forward to what next week will bring. I'm so proud of all of them. Our fans are amazing also,” said Tiger player Abbie Ward.
In the championship match against Satanta, the game started out on an even keel, with both teams trading baskets during a fast-paced first quarter.
Early on, the Tiger guards found sophomore center Teresa Wade open underneath for four scores, getting fouled on one and making the charity shot, the Indians having a hard time stopping her. But when the Tigers weren't hitting, it was pretty much “one and out”, the Indians grabbing the rebound and heading down court.
Others scoring were senior guard Ariel Smith canning a long 3-pointer, freshman guard Jamie Waters hitting two 2-pointers up close, and senior forward Abbie Ward, a two-pointer midway in. The score after one was St. John 18, Satanta 14.
Except for a short 11 point Tiger lead midway through the second quarter, both teams stayed fairly close with the Indians scoring the last six points of the half, the Tigers carrying a five-point lead going into halftime 27-22. Both of St. John's senior guards Brooke Burgan and Smith made a three-pointer.
In the third quarter, the Tigers out-scored the Indians by eight, with five Lady Tigers contributing, Burgan making her second 3-pointer. At the end of three – St. John 39, Satanta 26.
With the Indians pressing in the fourth, the Lady Tigers got some easy baskets breaking their press and going in for layups. The final score: St. John 56, Satanta 36.
Scoring for St. John: Wade 18, Burgan 12, Smith 10, Waters 10, Morgan Osborne 2, Ward 2, and Christa Milton with 2 points.
Jamie Waters: “Wow. I want to thank our fans for coming out to watch us. I love our team,” Waters said after the game. “I am looking forward to next week and I'm so proud of our team.”
