by Brian Turrel
Two of Kansas’s best girls high school basketball teams went head-to-head Thursday night, when the Schlagle Lady Stallions visited Piper to take on the undefeated Lady Pirates. Piper came away with the victory, 72-53, due in large part to a big second-quarter run.
With sub-state tournament brackets already set on Wednesday, and no effect on the schools’ standings, the game was simply about the competitive fire of both teams. That spirit showed out in a hard-fought contest with fifty personal fouls called.
Schlagle matched Piper stride for stride from the opening tip, using good floor spacing and confident passing to slip past the first layer of the Piper press.
Ishante Suttington was effective in closing out possessions, picking up 9 points in the quarter, mostly off the drive. The fast-paced quarter ended with Schlagle up 21-20.
The first few minutes of the second quarter stayed even, but with five minutes left in the half, the Lady Pirates started a 19-to-1 run, highlighted by two 3-pointers from Grace Banes. Foul trouble also accumulated for Schlagle, which ended the half with four starters with three fouls each.
The third quarter saw the Lady Stallions regain their footing. Suttington hit twice from outside, while Tylieea Wallace got going inside. Schlagle outscored Piper by two in the quarter, but were still left at a 63-47 disadvantage when it ended.
Scoring was slow in the fourth quarter, with Piper content to play the clock, and both teams worn by the physical struggle of the game.
Ali Vigil led Piper with 25 points, while Ryan Cobbins, Evelyn Vazquez and Banes each scored 11. Suttington scored 23 to lead Schlagle, and Wallace added 10. The 53 points scored by Schlagle were the most by a Piper opponent all season.
Piper will travel to Eudora on Friday to play the Cardinals, who are just a half-game behind them in the Frontier League Standings. They’ll begin post-season play next Thursday at 7 p.m., at home against the winner of a play-in game between Coffeyville’s Field Kindley High School and Tonganoxie.
Schlagle will open the 5A sub-state playoffs at home against Bonner Springs on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
