Piper junior Sage Grann went up for a layup. Grann scored 17 points in the Lady Pirates 57-27 win over Sumner Academy. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
The Piper Lady Pirates won a cross-town match against the Sumner Academy Lady Sabres 57-27 Friday evening at Sumner.
Piper’s active defense made it difficult for the Lady Sabres to get the ball inside and helped the visitors take an early 6-0 lead, but Sumner took advantage of free throws and a timely three-point shot from Ariana Rivera to pull ahead 10-9 by the end of the first quarter.
Sumner kept the game knotted midway through the second quarter, using full court pressure to slow the Piper offense. As Piper broke the press, a burst of fast-break scoring wore down the home team as halftime approached.
Rivera hit two three-pointers in the second quarter to keep things close, but the Lady Pirates went to the break with a 25-18 advantage.
The third quarter showed much more of the same as Piper controlled the tempo and extended the lead. The Lady Pirates distributed the scoring, racking up 19 points in the quarter with no player scoring more than four.
Sage Grann led Piper with 17 points, and Lauren Marron and Anneliese Lockwood added nine points each. Grann was especially effective on the offensive glass, getting several points on putbacks.
Rivera ended the game with 18 of Sumner’s 27 points, along with five steals. Kylie McCleary pulled down 11 rebounds in the contest.
The win gives Piper a 2-1 record heading into United Kansas Conference play next week. The Lady Pirates will take on Topeka’s Seaman Lady Vikings at home on Tuesday starting at 5:45 p.m.
The Lady Sabres, just off a 59-9 drubbing of Kansas City’s Northeast High School, dropped to 2-1. The team will open Meadowlark Conference play against Washington at home on Tuesday. The game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
Sumner junior Ariana Rivera drove around a Piper defender. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner senior Kylie McCleary put back an offensive rebound. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
The Piper cheerleaders practiced a stunt during halftime. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper freshman Anneliese Lockwood put up a shot from the block. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sumner junior Ariana Rivera took a short jumper from the baseline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper junior Lauren Marron launched a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
In between quarters, the Sumner cheerleaders showed off a stunt called “The Bird.” (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper sophomore Abbie Roth flipped up a shot as she sailed out of bounds. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Piper sophomore Avary Vallejo took a three-point shot. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior forward Tina Rosales pushed past KC Christian sophomore guard Meagan Dekker for a scoring drive in Bishop Ward’s 44-33 win Friday evening. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
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.
Junior guard Jaden Oropeza drove to the basket. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior forward Tina Rosales made a layup in the first quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior guard Jaden Oropeza snatched a KC Christian pass to create a fast-break opportunity in the third quarter. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore guard Emily Collins took a short shot along the baseline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman guard Alaina Mendez took a shot from the low block in the second half. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Head coach Holland Craise got an enthusiastic response from her team during a fourth quarter timeout. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore guard Emily Collins drove to the basket along the baseline. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Senior forward Abby Hill fought for a rebound. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Junior guard Jaden Oropeza fought for a loose ball. (Photo copyright 2022 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore Sage Grann tried to turn the corner on an Ottawa defender. Grann scored 17 points in Piper’s 45-35 loss to Ottawa. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
by Brian Turrel
After losing five starters from last year’s team, the Piper girls’ basketball team begins the 2021-2022 season with a fresh start and a roster light on experience. The young team lost their season opener to the Ottawa Lady Cyclones 45-35 on Friday.
The Lady Pirates got off to a slow start, picking up only one basket in the first quarter. Piper’s tightly packed zone defense also limited Ottawa’s output, and the first half finished 20-10 in Ottawa’s favor.
The game opened up in the second half, and Ottawa stayed patient to stretch the Piper defense. Abbie Roth and Tatum Vallejo hit three-point shots for Piper in the fourth quarter, and Sage Grann got two three-point opportunities on drives to the basket.
The Lady Pirates pulled within 6 points midway through the fourth quarter, but Ottawa made timely baskets to hold the final margin at 10.
Grann made an impact on both ends of the court, leading the team with 17 points and also finding a knack for snagging errant passes to start a fast break. She also shared ball-handling duties with freshman point guard Avary Vallejo.
Marissa Covington scored 10 points in the game and also secured multiple defensive rebounds.
The Piper Lady Pirates will participate starting Monday in the Huhtamaki Hardwood Classic held by De Soto High School.
Senior Marissa Covington challenged Ottawa sophomore Emery Keebaugh. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman guard Avary Vallejo picked up the defense in the back court. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Fans applauded the singing of the national anthem. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman Abbie Roth launched an outside shot in the fourth quarter. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Sophomore Sage Grann was met by the Ottawa defense as she drove into the lane. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Senior Marissa Covington’s shot inside was blocked by Ottawa sophomore Emery Keebaugh. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman Avary Vallejo fought for a loose ball. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Junior Evelyn Collins looked for an entry pass to the basket. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Junior Tatum Vallejo pushed the ball up the right side. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
Freshman Abbie Roth drove along the left baseline. (Photo copyright 2021 by Brian Turrel)
