
By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Things got off to a good enough start for the Lady Panther basketball team in Friday's season-opener against Salina South. Senior Cassie Ellegood scored the first points of the season in the opening seconds for a quick 2-0 Lady Panther lead. The offense fell into a slump after that as South cruised to a running-clock 57-20 win.
South did much of its damage from the outside in the first half, shooting 19 3-pointers in the first two quarters compared to 21 field goal attempts on the Great Bend end. Seven of the perimeter shots went in. Cougar junior Brooklyn Jordan made three triples, including a pair off the glass, in the first quarter to give South an early 19-8 lead.
The Cougars got two more threes early in the second quarter, then took a steal the distance to open up a 27-8 advantage. Junior Katherine Mazouch ended the drought on an assist from junior Alyssa McCauley but South canned another trey just two minutes later. Sophomore Maddie Siefkes came off the bench to score a pair of late baskets but the Panthers trailed 39-14 at the break.
Then the offensive woes really began. Great Bend missed on all 13 of its field goal attempts in the third quarter. Sophomore Meredith Mazouch saved the shutout with three free throws in the final minute of the frame.
Senior DeShawnna Bryant made a turnaround jumper early in the fourth to end an 0-for-15 field goal drought. That proved to be the lone Lady Panther basket in the second half.
Jordan and 6-3 junior Paityn Fritz each scored 15 points for South, splitting 15 rebounds along the way. Elle Barth scored 11 points, Tamia Cheeks finished with eight points and six boards, and Brylee Moss scored seven points.
The Lady Panthers finished the night 8 of 43 from the floor. Bryant finished with five points and six boards, and Meredith Mazouch added five points and four rebounds. Siefkes and Katherine Mazouch each scored four points.