TOWANDA, Kan. – McPherson High School’s Girls Basketball team allowed a come-from-behind effort by the Circle Thunderbirds, but pulled away late to earn another road league win, 41-35, keeping them tied for first place.
Following an 8-8 tie to close out the first quarter, the Bullpups used a strong defensive presence to lead 19-11 at the halftime break. However, Circle found itself on the positive end of a run to take a 27-23 lead towards the end of the third quarter, before a Karlie Cooper buzzer-beater finished off the frame to cut the score to within two.
Both teams battle back-and-forth in the fourth quarter. Circle took a 29-26 lead, but Piper Alvord hit a game-tying three. Not long after, Circle re-took the lead on a three, but the Bullpups went on a subsequent 10-0 run, helping them pull away to win 41-35.
Alvord led all scorers with 12 points. Karlie Cooper tied her career high with 10.
The win for McPherson moves them back to .500 on the season with a 10-10 overall record, 6-1 in AVCTL-3 play. Their league record still ties them with Mulvane for the top spot following Mulvane’s win over Buhler on Tuesday.
McPherson will travel to Hutter Gymnasium to face Augusta on Friday, Feb. 20.
SCORING BREAKDOWN
McPherson: 8-11-6-16 — 41
Circle: 8-3-16-8 — 35
McPherson:
- Team: 14 FG Made, 3 3PT Made, 10-19 FT
- Individual: Alvord 12 (5 FG, 1 3PT, 1-4 FT), Cooper 10 (3 FG, 1 3PT, 3-6 FT), Doile 7 (1 FG, 5-7 FT), M. Sandbo 4 (2 FG), Whitfield 3 (1 FG, 1 3PT), Alexander 2 (1 FG), A. Sandbo 2 (1 FG), Blake 1 (1-2 FT)
Circle:
- Team: 12 FG Made, 4 3PT Made, 7-14 FT
- Individual: Oliver 8 (2 FG, 2 3PT, 2-2 FT), Swilley 8 (4 FG), Patty 7 (2 FG, 3-6 FT), Coble 6 (2 FG, 2 3PT), Smith 5 (2 FG, 1-4 FT), Wittlake 1 (1-2 FT)
