by Brian Turrel
The Bishop Ward Lady Cyclones won 44-33 over the KC Christian Lady Panthers Friday evening, taking control in the third quarter with an overpowering defensive effort that fueled a scoring surge.
The teams took some time to find their offensive rhythm early in the game, and the score stood at only 4-2 midway through the first quarter. Ward was briefly ahead 10-4 before a late run from KC Christian closed the score to 10-8 at the end of the quarter. Point guard Jaden Oropeza had success streaking to the basket and tallied 6 points.
The Lady Panthers kept the game close in the second quarter, getting two quick turnovers to push in front 13-12 just two minutes in. Meredith Veer scored all 8 second-quarter points for the hosts, including two 3-pointers, but Ward found opportunities close to the basket to maintain an 18-16 lead at the half.
In the third quarter, Ward’s defensive intensity paid off in stops and baskets. The stops turned into fast break chances and layups for Tina Rosales and Emily Collins.
Rosales, who scored her 1,000th career point in the Lady Cyclones’ last game, hit 3 baskets and scored 3 more at the free throw line in the third quarter. The foul calls stacked up along with the defense, and Rosales had to ride the bench for the last few minutes of the quarter.
Foul trouble caught up with the Lady Cyclones in the fourth quarter as both Tina Rosales and Abby Hill fouled out of the game. The Lady Panthers earned 18 trips to the free throw line in the quarter, but they converted only 4, letting Ward keep the upper hand and finish out the game with a double-digit lead.
After the game, head coach Holland Craise praised her team’s effort.
“They really showed out tonight with defense, and like I said I can’t be more proud of them because not a lot of teams can have that defensive intensity. That’s our thing,” she said.
Rosales finished the game with 15 points for the Lady Cyclones, and Jaden Oropeza scored 12. Ward scored all its points inside the three-point arc.
Ward now has back-to-back wins and a 6-9 season record. They have three games next week: Tuesday at home against Heritage Christian Academy, on the road Wednesday at Cristo Rey, and back at home Friday against Topeka’s Cair Paravel School.
