On Wednesday, Alma and Southwest competed in the Class D1 NSAA Girls State Basketball Tournament. For both schools, it was their first appearance at the State Tournament. Alma came away with a win, while Southwest fell short in their game.
What a way to make some noise at your first ever NSAA Girls State Basketball Tournament for Alma.
The Cardinals were the #5 seed in D1 and faced off against #4 seed Superior. Alma played Superior earlier this season on January 4th and lost 53-34. This time around, Alma was able to win in this quarterfinal matchup, 45-36.
Prior to the game, we visited with Amanda Davis of Alma about the matchup.
In the first quarter, offense was hard to come by for both teams, but for Alma specifically, you could tell there were some jitters. The first time playing at the state and at Pinnacle Bank Arena is a different set of circumstances, to say the least.
The first bucket of the game for Alma didn't come until the 3:47 mark in the first and they were down by seven, 9-2. After the first quarter, Superior led 14-7.
Alma trailed by as many as 10 in the second quarter, but kept hanging around. Superior maintained the lead at the half, 24-15.
Check out the highlights of the game brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company!
In the third quarter, the script began to flip. Alma surged on offense, including a big three-pointer from Kamryn Scott with 5:21 to go, making it 27-22. Alma scored again about 90 seconds later, making it 27-24 with 3:40 to go in the third. Superior took a timeout.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Reagan Meyers, who was controlling the paint, injured her leg with 2:10 to go in the third quarter. At that point, the score was 28-26.
At the end of the third, Superior led 32-26.
In the final quarter, Alma made a clear change and began to attack the rim with force. With 3:49 to go in the game, freshman Vayden Epp went to the hoop, got fouled, hit the layup, and the free throw to make it 35-34.
Alma continued to play defense at a high level and knock down free throws to close the game. Alma used a 15-0 run to propel them to victory.
We caught up wth Chayse Molzahn after the game about the win.
For Superior, Sadie Cornell had 13 points, including three three-pointers, Reagan Meyers had 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Faith Butler had seven points. As a team, they had 43 rebounds, 18 of which were offensive. They shot 25% from the field and 17% from three.
For Alma, Tierston Moore had 16 points and seven steals, Chayse Molzahn had six points and eight blocks, along with seven boards. Kamryn Scott and Vayden Epp each had nine points and Kamri Neal had four.
For Alma they shot 40% from the field and hit one three in the game. Alma had 26 rebounds.
Our Players of the Game, brought to you by Farmers National Company - Lori Harding Real Estate Sales went to Tierston Moore and Chayse Molzahn.
Superior closes the season at 21-6.
Alma is 21-6 and will now play on Friday, at 9:00 A.M. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center against defending State Champ and #1 seed Pender. Pender is 26-2.
For #3 seed Southwest, they played #6 seed Cedar Catholic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Prior to the game, we chatted with Shannon Lovin, Head Coach of the Southwest Girls Basketball Team
The Roughriders played hard, but fell in the game by a final of 54-27.
In the opening minutes of the game, it appeared that these two squads were going to be in a tight battle. However, as the first period continued, Cedar Catholic created some space. They led 19-7 after the first.
In the second quarter, neither team had much luck on the offensive side, as the defenses forced turnovers. The Trojans led 29-12 at the intermission.
Check out the Highlights of the game brought to you by Prairie Girl Candle Company!
Southwest had some solid looks at times in the first half, but the ball just didn't find the bottom of the net.
Southwest came out with urgency in the third quarter. But again, the ball just wouldn't go in. Cedar Catholic increased its lead to 38-18 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the final quarter, Southwest made one more effort to come back, but Cedar Catholic kept the lead and secured the win.
Katelyn Arens led Cedar Catholic with 17 points and eight rebounds. Anisten Wortmann had 11 points, and Addison Walter and Savannah Pick each had eight. The Trojans shot 36% from the field and 22% from three. They had 44 rebounds and 20 turnovers.
For Southwest Aspen, Billeter had seven points and six rebounds, and Kyra Nelms and Atleigh Nelms had six. Kyra had seven boards too. Anastasia Gallegos and Allison VanPelt each had four. Southwest shot 20% from the field, 1-16 from three. They had 41 rebounds and 28 turnovers.
Southwest closes the season at 23-2.
Cedar Catholic is now 16-11 and will face #2 seed Elm Creek at 10:45 A.M. on Friday at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
Our Player of the Game, brought to you by Farmers National Company - Lori Harding Real Estate Sales went to Anastasia Gallegos.
