Everyone Contributes in Concordia's Win Over Lafayette, 58-48

2022-2023 Concordia High School Girls Basketball Team
2022-2023 Concordia High School Girls Basketball Team

The Concordia High School Girls Basketball team, the lowest ranked team in the Hiawatha Girls Invitational Tournament, put together their most complete effort of the season on Thursday, January 26th, defeating the Lafayette Fighting Irish by a score of 58-48. 

The win advances Concordia to their final game of the tournament where they will play the St. Mary's Bears at noon on Saturday, January 28th at Hiawatha High School.  St. Mary's topped Lafayette in their opening round game 61-50, before dropping a heartbreaker in overtime to the Hiawatha Red Hawks, 47-45.

All eight players that played for Concordia scored in the win.

The Panthers entered the contest averaging only 32.7 points per game.  The 58 points Concordia tallied marks the most points they have scored in a game since February 8, 2018 when they dropped a 79-69 overtime affair to the Chapman Irish.

In the opening frame, five players found themselves in the scoring column for Concordia, but Lafayette managed to knock down three shots from behind the arc, including two from Senior Guard Jazlyn King.  The Panthers held a slim 13-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Concordia then matched its best quarter of the season in the second period, outscoring the Fighting Irish 20-9.  Senior Guard Hanna Acree sparked an 11-3 run, scoring 7 points during that stretch, to give the Panthers their first double-digit lead.  Concordia entered the locker room at halftime with a 33-20 advantage.

The Panthers continued their dominance in the third quarter, expanding their lead out to 21 points at 46-25.  Lafayette ended the third frame on a 6-1 run, trimming Concordia's lead to 47-31 to start the fourth.  

In the fourth quarter, the Fighting Irish made a run, led by outside scoring from Senior Darcy Bowlin and Junior Talicia Byrd.  Bowlin hit four three-pointers to finish with 12 points, while Byrd also ended up in double-figures with 10.  Lafayette outscored the Panthers 17-11 in the final frame, but the Fighting Irish were never able to get closer than eight points over the final eight minutes.

Sophomore Post Taylor McDaniel led the way for Concordia off the bench with 13 points off 5-of-7 shooting from the field.

Freshman Wing Charlize Cash scored 8 points on a 2-of-2 night from the field and a 4-of-4 effort from the free-throw line.  Cash also grabbed 18 rebounds, dished out 9 assists, recorded 2 steals and blocked a shot.  Cash was named our Nex-Tech Wireless MVP of the Game.

Acree had 8 points and 2 steals and received our H&R Block of the Game.

Senior Cianna DeLeon and Juniors Hattie Blackwood and Carlie Carlgren all had 7 points each.  Carlgren also produced 3 rebounds and 3 steals.

Sophomore Kinsleigh Bethune scored 5 points and pulled down 5 rebounds, while Freshman Rylie Jessup registered 3 points.

Concordia has improved to 3-9 on the season.  The Panthers will compete in the final day of the Hiawatha Girls Invitational Tournament on Saturday, January 28th.