Piper loses late at Lansing

Senior guard Evelyn Vazquez drove for a layup in the third quarter of Piper’s 5A substate final against Lansing Friday nght. Lansing won the game 35-32. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

by Brian Turrel

The Piper Lady Pirates narrowly missed a return trip to the KSHSAA state basketball tournament, with a late, close 35-32 loss at Lansing in the 5A substate final on Friday evening.

Piper held a 5-point lead with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but wasn’t able to hold on as the Lady Lions surged past in the closing minutes. The Lady Pirates squandered a couple of late game-sealing opportunities at the free throw line. Lansing took advantage with a well-executed inbounds play under its own basket and took the lead for good with less than 5 seconds remaining.

The score was tied at 19 at the half, but Piper built a 5-point advantage in the third quarter by limiting Lansing to only 2 points with no made baskets. Lansing frustrated the Lady Pirates’ offense throughout the game by packing five defenders around the lane, denying all but a few penetration drives.

Senior guard Evelyn Vazquez led the Lady Pirates with 12 points. She was most successful on offense when the team used ball movement to stretch the Lansing defense to create openings. Senior forward Jennifer Guilbeaux added 10 points, and freshman guard Lauren Marron scored 5.

The 2021 tournament was the team’s first since being reclassified to 5A. Piper  defeated Basehor-Linwood 51-42 on Tuesday to advance to the substate final.

Piper finishes the season with a 13-6 overall record. The team won the Frontier League championship, its sixth league championship in a row.

Senior Jennifer Guilbeaux put back an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Sophomore guard Ryann Clark drove to the basket. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Senior guard Dawnyale Bruce drove to the basket. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

The Piper cheerleaders performed during a break in the action. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Freshman guard Lauren Marron put up a short range shot but was denied by Lansing junior Mackenzie Manth. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Head coach Shane Stout talked strategy with his team during a timeout in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Jennifer Guilbeaux set up the backcourt defense late in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Marron pushed the ball up the court past a Lansing defender. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Vazquez looked for a gap in the Lansing defense. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)

 

Clark took a baseline jump shot. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)