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BASEHOR, KAN. — In a potential sub-state preview game, the Basehor-Linwood Bobcats girls basketball team was defeated by Sumner Academy in a dramatic 45-44 game.
Through the first three quarters, it was a game of runs.
Similarly to their opening game in Bonner Springs, the Lady Bobcats played a great opening quarter on the defensive side of the ball. They forced turnovers and scored the first four points of the game.
Two baskets from Quinnlyn Walcott resulted in four of Basehor-Linwood's nine opening first quarter points. After a slow start, the Lady Sabres climbed back into the game and closed the quarter out on a 5-0 run to grab a 13-9 lead.
The Lady Bobcats' defense, along with a mix of sloppy offense by the Lady Sabres, led to an eight-point halftime lead.
Basehor-Linwood scored 12 of the half's final 14 points. McDowell scored eight points in the quarter, outscoring Sumner Academy's entire team by three points.
She drained six free throws in the second quarter and the majority of Basehor-Linwood's points in the quarter came from the charity stripe.
Taking a 26-18 lead into the third quarter, it appeared the Lady Bobcats were on the cusp of putting away their first win of the season.
A McDowell three-point play extended the lead to nine points, which grew to a game-high 10 points by the midway point of the third quarter.
However, Sumner Academy turned the heat up on both defense and offense, using a 16-4 run to take a three-point lead (36-33) into the final quarter of play. Like they did against Bonner Springs in the third quarter, Basehor-Linwood struggled a bit offensively and could not create easy looks.
But while Sumner Academy grabbed the lead, they couldn't close the door, either. Despite an eight-minute field goal drought for Basehor-Linwood, the Lady Sabres failed to extend their lead past three points in the third quarter.
Three free throws from Chandley Easley and Walcott helped Basehor-Linwood regain the lead at 37-36.
The game continued to go back and forth, as there were six ties or lead changes in the final minutes of the game. McDowell's basket tied the game at 40, but Sumner Academy would score five of the next six points to gain a four-point advantage.
Three of those points came off a controversial intentional foul call on the Lady Bobcats. Sumner made three out of four attempts from the line after the call was made. Not helping was the Lady Bobcats missing three free throws in the final minute.
A buzzer-beater from behind the arc by McDowell was not enough, leaving the final score at 45-44.
McDowell finished the game with 18 points, while Walcott ended up with 9 points.
Basehor-Linwood falls to 0-2 on the season.
