Web posted
Friday, March 7, 2008
Magical ride comes to an end
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Photo by Tyler Gaskill
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Weskan ends Dexter's record season in OT
By DAVID WOLMAN
Traveler Sports Editor
sports@arkcity.net
HAYS -- Nervousness accompanied Dexter's first appearance in the Class 1A girls state tournament.
Dexter was able to shake off those nervous once -- at least temporarily -- but not a second time.
Leah Lawrence hit a three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining in regulation, sending Thursday's quarterfinal into overtime. But Weskan was too much in the extra session, using a 9-2 run to close out a 55-49 win in the quarterfinals at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
Weskan advances to face Wheatland-Grinnell, who upset top seed and previously undefeated Olpe 58-55 in overtime, in today's semifinal. Dexter finished the season 22-4.
Weskan opened the second half with a full-court press and flustered the Fighting Cardinals, who were outscored 15-9 in the third quarter.
"We knew that they pressed," Dexter coach Debbie Callison said. "Unfortunately, we had a couple of turnovers that hurt us."
Three Weskan steals turned into its first lead of the game, 26-25.
Weskan pushed the tempo on offense in the second half.
Payton Walker hit a turnaround jumper, while being fouled by Dexter's Tanessa McClure, later in the quarter. Walker made the ensuing free throw to finish off a three-point play for a five-point Weskan lead.
Foul trouble became an issue for the Fighting Cardinals in the second half. Alexis Hafenstein and Krissy Kill both fouled out in the fourth quarter.
Welsh stepped to the line after Kill fouled out with 29.5 seconds remaining, and had a chance to give Weskan a two-possession lead. Welsh made the first, but missed the second attempt. Amanda Defore forced a jump ball after sharing the rebound with a couple of Weskan players.
That set up Lawrence's heroics.
Lawrence tied the game at 45 with an open three-pointer. She finished with six points.
"That was a crucial time for her to hit that three, and she did exactly what was called for at that time," Callison said.
Dexter hoped that would be the emotional lift it needed going into the extra session.
Camille Kahrs opened the scoring in overtime with a hesitation layup, but Dexter missed four free throws and committed three costly turnovers. Dexter finished only 10-of-20 at the foul line, compared to 19-of-28 for Weskan.
Clinging to a 50-49 lead with 1:08 showing on the clock, Walker stole a bad up-court pass by Dexter and Hollie McKinney converted a layup at the other end.
Walker finished with 15 points, while McKinney added 10.
McKinney and Breanna Hilgemann sank three free throws in the final 21 seconds to ice the game. Dexter finished with 23 turnovers, compared to 21 for Weskan -- but Dexter's came at critical junctures.
"Turnovers are always critical, especially at state," Callison said.
Early on, Dexter played at the fast pace it wanted to establish. Defore played a big part in that, scoring eight of her 10 points in the first quarter. She also snagged down 15 rebounds.
Defore recorded a putback off a missed three-pointer by Kill late in the first quarter for a 12-8 Dexter lead. Four possessions later, Allie Crow gave Dexter a 14-8 lead on a jumper. She then gave Dexter its largest lead, 21-12, on a putback midway through the second quarter.
Crow finished with a game-high 16 points. Kahrs added 15.
While Dexter's season ended sooner than anticipated, Callison reflected on the positives her team had in what was a record season.
The Fighting Cardinals finished with a school-record 22 wins, in addition to qualifying for the state tournament for the first time in program history. "I thought that our team worked really hard to get here," Callison said. "It didn't happen overnight. They worked hard and battled. It was a dream to be here."
Weskan 10 10 15 10 10 -- 55
Dexter 14 11 9 11 4 -- 49
Weskan -- Walker 15, McKinney 10, Cox 9, Welsh 7, Hilgemann 6, Okeson 4, McKinney 4. Totals 18-56 19-28 55.
Dexter -- Crow 16, Kahrs 15, Defore 10, Lawrence 6, Hafenstein 2. Totals 19-47 10-20 49.
Above: Dexter basketball players Camille Karhs, left, and Alexis Hafenstein walked off the court dejected after their season came to an end in the quarterfinals of the Class 1A state girls tournament on Thursday in Hays. Dexter fell to Weskan 55-49 in overtime at Gross Memorial Coliseum.
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