Lady Bluejays no show in finale
The Lady Bluejays might consider sending out a search party after Saturday night's regular home season finale against the Friends Lady Falcons. Tabor's game was missing in action.
In the most lethargic performance the Bluejays had all the season, Friends used a big second half rally to punch Tabor (11-7 KCAC, 17-11), 70-60.
Bluejay coach Rusty Allen was stumped for explanations on what backfired on his team.
"We were very lethargic," he said. "That mental and physical alertness and quickness that I think is a trademark of our team on most nights was just not there. We just didn't have it, and I don't know how to explain it."
Even harder to explain might be how a team that had won nine of its last 10 games takes a tumble at home to a team they handled in Wichita.
Early in the game, Tabor looked like the normal team, jumping out to a quick 6-0 lead after Rachelle Wertenberger drained a three in the first 3:33 of the game.
Three-point shooting has been a strength of the Bluejays, especially with Erica Hemmert, Wertenberger, Angela Kroeker, and Jill Hein.
On Saturday, only Wertenberger and Hemmert could get anything to fall as Tabor staggered to an icy 2-for-10 from behind the arc.
Wertenberger scored a quiet game high 23 points while committing a team high three thefts and 8-of-11 at the foul line.
Hemmert followed with 13 points, pulling down a team high five rebounds for a team that got beat 32-26 on the glass.
Friends took a 7-6 lead after the Bluejays went nearly 3:00 without a basket.
Over the next 14:00, the lead would change hands six times with five ties.
The Bluejays' ball handling helped the Falcons stick around, committing eight turnovers which led to eight points for Friends.
Ironically, hitting 48 percent through the first half, Tabor staggered into the break with a 29-26 edge.
Nearly half of Tabor's points came from Wertenberger, who led all scorers at the half with 13.
Much of the Bluejay half-time lead could be attributed to their quickness. A key factor in handling the Falcons on their home court came from Tabor being a faster team.
"We thought we had an advantage with our quickness and we thought that would allow us to get to the basket," said Allen.
The wings stayed on the Bluejays' feet, using a 6-0 run to stretch the lead to 45-37 with 11:30 remaining. The Falcons used an 8-0 run to knot the game up a 45 at the 9:50 mark.
Hitting 74 percent at the line for the game, Hemmert's second of a pair of free throws got Tabor as close as one, 52-51.
Three times in the final 2:22 the Bluejays were able to make it a two-possession game, but the Falcons hit 5-for-6 down the stretch to slam the door on Tabor.
Friends had four players reach double figures, paced by 17 points from Mindy Headrick.
"This is a game you truly do just need to forget," a discouraged Allen said. "It's at the end of the season and dwelling on this game doesn't accomplish anything."
The fourth-seeded Bluejays season will go on, pending a win Tuesday against the visiting Bethany Swedes in Hillsboro.
