Tabor team topples Concordia
Tabor women sweep Cattle Classic, beating third-ranked Concordia, York
By RYAN RICHTER
Sports writer
All through last season, Lady Bluejay coach Rusty Allen was constantly grumbling about how his team needed a huge win to really get the program going.
Something like knocking off the two bullies of the KCAC, Sterling and Bethany, both of which Tabor nearly did, but never could quite get the job done.
So on to this year.
Nearly 11 months ago to the date, Allen got his first impressive look at the Concordia Lady Bulldogs, a team then sitting right near the top of the NAIA.
Despite tumbling 76-64, Jan. 3 in Nebraska, Tabor still gave the Bulldogs all they wanted.
In Friday's opening game of the Cattle Classic in Seward, Neb., it might have come a little late.
But Allen and the Bluejays might have finally gotten that one huge win they needed to take the next step, or at least one that will soothe getting blasted Nov. 25, 76-49, by Baker.
Kicking sand in the hosting third-ranked Bulldogs' faces, the Bluejays shot lights out from three point range to knock off Concordia in an overtime thriller, 73-64.
While the Bluejays were floundering in Baldwin City against Baker, the Bulldogs were dethroning the top-ranked and defending NAIA champion Hastings, Neb., 74-73.
Shooting a torrid 52 percent from the field and 10 for 12 from behind the arc, Tabor was able to overcome a 57-49 deficit with 5:00 left in the game.
Up 29-28 at halftime, Tabor was pushed around inside by the Bulldogs' All-American post Sara Harrison, who had a double-double of 24 points and 12 rebounds.
Harrison was instrumental in helping Concordia build the lead to eight.
A drive to the basket by Donya Anderson with 27 seconds knotted the game at 60-60.
Tabor pulled away in overtime, benefited by leading scorer Erica Hemmert's draining of six free throws in the extra session.
Hemmert scored a team-high 20 points with 4 for 6 coming from behind the arc.
Rachelle Wertenberger followed with 18 points.
"It felt really good to beat them," Wertenberger said. "It was exciting because we all played together really well, and it's exciting to know that we have the potential to play with some of the best in the nation.
"We were on fire, I guess you could say. Everyone seemed to be shooting really well, and we were getting it to the basket, too. Then it opened up outside, and we just put them in."
No kidding for Wertenberger. She hit a perfect 5 for 5 from downtown.
In Saturday's finale, the Bulldogs bounced back from being upset by Tabor to crush the KCAC favorite Bethany, 91-53.
The 5-3 Bluejays host the Kansas Wesleyan Lady Coyotes tonight at 6 p.m. before traveling Saturday to Lindsborg to take on the Bethany Lady Swedes at 5 p.m.
York
The Bluejays' red-hot shooting continued Saturday in Tabor's finale for the Cattle Classic against York.
Behind another 50 percent night shooting from the field, Tabor overcame a four-point deficit in the second half to upend York, 66-59.
Hemmert scored a game-high 21 points while Wertenberger, en route to joining Hemmert on the all-tournament team, chipped in 12 points amidst handing out four assists.
"They were just a different team," said Wertenberger of the Panthers. "I think they tried to slow it down more, and it was just a different style of game. We still shot well; we just pounded it inside more. It was a good weekend."
Newman
What a way to spoil a good weekend.
Shoot, the Kansas Newman Lady Jets handed the Bluejays their first loss of the season, and they handed them their last, too.
Once again, the Jets' puzzle proved to be unsolvable for the Bluejays Dec. 1 after they tumbled in Wichita, 68-59.
The physical Jets found a way to cool Tabor's perimeter shooting, holding the Bluejays to a wretched 4 for 16 from three point range and a tart 19 of 54 from the field.
Not to mention controlling the rebounds, 42-29. Angela Kroeker pulled down a team-high six for the Bluejays.
Hemmert again scored a game-high for Tabor, hitting 7 of 12 from the field and 5 for 6 at the free throw line.
Wertenberger scored 14 points, and Anderson and Trixsi Odom combined for 15.
