Concordia Girls Basketball Battles Riley County Down to the Wire, Falls 31-29

The Concordia High School Girls Basketball team dropped a close one against the Riley County Falcons Tuesday, December 5th, falling by a final score of 31-29 in their home opener.  With the loss, the Panthers fall to 0-2 on the season.

In the tightly contested matchup, the Panthers raced out to a 10-0 lead over the Falcons, who last year won 16 games and qualified for the Class 3A State Basketball Tournament.  Riley County came storming back, helped by three baskets from long-range by Junior Guard Gracie Scofield to trim Concordia's lead to one, 12-11, at the end of the first quarter.

Scofield drilled three more shots from behind the arc in the second stanza, putting Riley County in front at 23-18 at the intermission.

In the second-half, Junior Post Taylor McDaniel scored eight of her team's final 11 points, allowing the Panthers to keep pace with Riley County.  

Concordia kept fighting.

Sophomore Point Guard Rylie Jessup made her second three-pointer of the game to make it 31-29 with 45 seconds to go.

Defensively, Concordia forced two turnovers down the stretch.

Jessup, who has knocked down four three-pointers on the year, missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, and Riley County escaped with the win.

Concordia's two losses to start the year have come by a combined five points.  The Panthers lost to Beloit on December 1st, 44-41.

Only four players scored for Riley County, who were led by Scofield's 18 points, all of which came from behind the arc.  Junior Anna Lambert had 8 points.

McDaniel led Concordia with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals.  McDaniel was named our Nex-Tech Wireless MVP of the Game.

Jessup followed with 8 points.

Junior Guard Kinsleigh Bethune also pitched in a three.

Sophomore Wing Charlize Cash added 4 points and 6 rebounds.  Cash picked up our H&R Block of the Game.

The Panthers will host the Smoky Valley Vikings on Friday, December 8th.  Smoky Valley is 1-1 on the season following a 45-16 win over Abilene and a 46-30 loss to Southeast of Saline.  Tipoff is scheduled for 6 pm.  Live coverage of the game can be heard on 1390 KNCK, 98.3 FM and NCKToday.com