HAYS — Being the first Crest High Lady Lancer team to play in a state basketball tournament cannot be taken away from the 10 girls who played here Thursday night.
The Lady Lancers knew their work was cut out for them coming into the 2012 Kansas Class 1A, Division II State Basketball Tournament. They were the No. 8 seed taking on top-seeded Ingalls High’s Lady Bulldogs.
Thursday’s quarterfinal game went as most figured it would. The Lady Bulldogs dominated from the opening tip, bolting to a 19-0 lead with just under five minutes left in the first quarter.
Ingalls (22-2) increased its lead to 56-10 by the 5:23 mark of the third quarter. Lady Bulldog reserve players finished out the game. Ingalls posted a 70-24 victory.
“Our girls were nervous coming into the game but they wanted to play. The nerves got to us and Ingals got out to such a big lead, we never recovered,” said Daniel Buller, who took over as head coach for the Lady Lancers at Christmas. He was the assistant coach when the season began.
Buller pointed to the Lady Bulldog press and “they are a very physical team and we didn’t correct. I didn’t correct things.”
Crest got on the scoreboard on a three-point play by junior Kurston Gilliland with 4:18 left. When sophomore Erica Holman sank two free throws for the Lady Lancers, they were down 26-5.
The Lady Bulldogs led 32-5 at the end of the first quarter. Lyndia Bradshaw, a freshman, and senior Shayla Stephens had back-to-back baskets for Crest to make it 37-9 at the 3:15 mark of the second quarter.
By halftime, Ingalls enjoyed a 44-10 advantage.
“I stayed very positive with the girls at halftime. We could go back out and give up or continue to fight and work like we have all season,” Buller said. “We’ve been counted out a lot this season but we’re here at state.
“Our girls wanted more than just get here but it wasn’t in the cards for us this year. I’ve got some angry girls with this loss because they want more.”
The Lady Bulldogs rolled on a 12-point run to open the second half. Then Ingalls’ head coach Roger Thurlow called off the “dogs” a bit by going with his team’s reserve players the rest of the game.
Sophomore Emily Frank hit a three-pointer for the Lady Lancers then sank 5 of 6 free throws in a row to make it 59-18 at the end of three quarters. Senior Katrina Strickler had two field goals and Stephens hit two free throw to end the scoring for Crest and their careers as Lady Lancers.
“We’re losing to very good seniors. Katrina and Shayla have been diehard players and pushed this team to get things done since Miss Reed left,” Buller said, referring to former head coach Jennifer Reed’s departure from the school at Christmas break.
Frank led the Lady Lancers with eight points, eight rebounds, two steals and three assists. Stephens ended up with five points, four rebounds and one steal and
