With just two wins on the year, one against North Nodaway, who finished the game with four players, and the other against East Atchison’s “B” squad, it was easy to overlook Worth County. But it turned out that their wins were no accident, as they were the aggressors early and often, flying to the boards and getting plenty of tips and steals as well.
The team went through their third coach in as many games while getting the win. First, Hadley Roberts, their regular coach, was tossed from the Avenue City for arguing with Referee Dan Gallagher, meaning that Les New managed them for the rest of the game. Then, April and Chris Healy managed the team for the East Atchison “B” game. Then, Roberts managed them for the St. Gregory’s game. But being able to hear someone else’s voice helped this team as they put together their best game of the year, taking an early lead and turning back constant efforts by the Falcons to get back in the game.
Autumn Cousatte scored off a pass from Kara-Jean Staton, and then Kynah Steele hit a free throw to make it 3-0. The teams traded blows until the end, when Kynah Steele scored four points in the final 13 seconds, getting two free throws and then picking up a carom and going the other way with it to put Worth County in front 11-4.
Worth County continued to beat the Falcons up and down the floor as Autumn Cousatte hit Steele inside, and then Kynah aired one out to Brooklyn Richardson for a basket to make it 15-4.
But then St. Gregory’s, which has several sharpshooters on their team, started finding the range as consecutive outside shots from Monica Conover and Jalea Price cut it to 15-8. Brooklyn Richardson scored off an Autumn Cousatte steal and Autumn fed Kynah Steele inside to make it 19-11, but then Makayla Yaple (daughter of NEN grad and basketball standout Natalie (Busby) Yaple) chipped away from the free throw line, hitting three out of four and Ryesen Stiens hit from the wing to make it 19-16. Cousatte hit from the high post to make it 21-16 at the break.
Price hit from outside to make it 21-18, and St. Gregory’s went to a tandem and three defense, where three players played Kynah Steele, Brooklyn Richardson, and Autumn Cousatte man to man, while the other two played zone.
But it didn’t seem to matter as Worth County scored a bunch of points in transition and on second chance tries to pull away again. Kara-Jean Staton got loose in transition as Steele aired one out to her, and then Kynah added a third-chance putback to make it 25-18. St. Gregory’s burned a timeout, but Abbi Brown got behind the Falcon defense, Kara-Jean, left alone by the tandem and three, hit from the top of the key, and Brooklyn Richardson got a putback to make it 31-18.
The two teams traded blows for the rest of the third quarter, but then the Falcons put on a press and Yaple connected inside to cut it to nine. Lauren Jaster connected from outside with 4:58 left, and all of a sudden, it was a game again at 33-26. But then a carom bounced right to Brooklyn Richardson, who converted to make it 35-26, and Kynah Steele got behind the press to make it 37-26.
Ryesen Stiens connected from behind the arc to make it 37-29 again, but Worth County was able to take huge chunks of time off the clock as the Falcons only had three fouls. Finally, Steele provided the dagger with a putback, making it four possessions at 39-29 with a minute left.
Kynah Steele had 17 points. Autumn Cousatte and Brooklyn Richardson had 8 each, Kara-Jean Staton 4, and Abbi Brown 2.
Kynah Steele had 3 blocks, Kara-Jean Staton 1, and Autumn Cousatte 1.
Kynah Steele had another monster night after her 28 point 13 steal effort against East Atchison; she had 16 boards to go with her 17 points. Autumn Cousatte also hit double figures in rebounding, getting 11. Abbi Brown had 6, and Kara-Jean Staton and Brooklyn Richardson had 2.
Kynah Steele had 5 assists. Abbi Brown had 3, Kara-Jean Staton 2, and Autumn Cousatte and Brooklyn Richardson had 1.
Kynah Steele had 6 tips. Autumn Cousatte and Brooklyn Richardson had 3, Kara-Jean Staton 2, and Abbi Brown and Becca Smith 1.
Autumn Cousatte, Kara-Jean Staton, and Kynah Steele all had 4 steals. Abbi Brown and Brooklyn Richardson had 2, while Becca Smith had 1.
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