FSHS girls stumble early in loss to Leavenworth

Box Score

Leavenworth 47,

Free State girls 33

LEAVENWORTH (47)

Terrion Moore 0-3 0-0 0, Alicia Brown 4-8 3-3 12, Tashia Jones 3-8 3-3 9, Emma Zeck 2-7 2-4 7, Tyler Johnson 4-5 1-2 9, Rachel Blackburn 5-7 1-2 11, Cardelia Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Destinee Robinson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 18-38 10-14 47.

FREE STATE (33)

Adriana Jadlow 2-3 1-2 5, Madison Piper 1-4 5-6 7, Scout Wiebe 4-4 3-7 11, Millie Shade 3-7 3-3 10, Maren Kahler 0-0 0-0 0, Hannah Walter 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Shoemaker 0-1 0-0 0, Lauren Johnson 0-0 0-1 0, Naomi Hickman 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 10-19 12-18 33.

Leavenworth 12 14 10 9 — 47

Free State 3 10 12 8 — 33

Three-point goals: LHS 1-7 (Zeck) FS 1-5 (Shade 1). Turnovers: LHS 11, FS 18.

Free State’s Hannah Walter tries to pass the ball around the Leavenworth defense in the first half of a 47-33 Firebirds girls loss, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, at FSHS.

The first quarter of the Free State High girls basketball team’s 47-33 loss to Leavenworth pretty much decided the outcome.

Playing an undefeated team that starts a couple of future Div. I players, the Firebirds managed three points, on just three shots, turned it over seven times and trailed by nine in the opening eight minutes Tuesday at FSHS.

The next three quarters were much better, as the Firebirds found a formula that worked and began to get better shots and earn trips to the free throw line. But Leavenworth’s swarming defense and superior size down low caused Free State fits all night.

“We’re disappointed we lost,” Free State coach Bryan Duncan said, “because I really felt like we were going to win the game going in. But our players didn’t play like that in the first quarter. We were intimidated.”

After that, the Firebirds (3-6) settled down and actually put some pressure on the Pioneers (8-0). Behind strong offensive efforts from Millie Shade (10 points) and Scout Wiebe (11) and a scrappy defense that forced 11 Leavenworth turnovers, the Firebirds pulled to within 36-29 with 7:03 to play but they could not pull closer.

“We were in foul trouble early and that really changed the complexion of the game,” said Duncan, who was forced to dig deep into his bench during the first half. “But we showed a little fight and competed. The bottom line is we have some players who we didn’t get our usual production from tonight, and against a good team like them, that can’t happen.”