Kynah Steele Swipes School Record 14 as Tigers Get Big Win at DeKalb

Worth County had every reason to be frustrated following their 31-24 loss to Stanberry in the Albany Tournament. On Monday, they took out their frustrations on DeKalb despite being down three players (flu), getting a surprisingly easy 58-20 win and making the long road trip worthwhile. 

DeKalb started off the season with an ugly 62-10 loss to St. Joseph Christian. But since then, they showed growth and development despite two more losses in the Platte Valley Invitational, including a 30-27 loss to North Nodaway for third place. But they were without five of their players, including their best player Rachel Reagan.

The home side took a 3-2 lead early after they broke the Tiger press and Rylie Burdette hit two free throws. But about halfway through the first quarter, Worth County realized that they were the better team despite being shorthanded. Liz Brown got a putback, Paige Sherer scored off a Hailey Adwell steal, Kynah Steele got loose inside, and Liz Brown scored off a drive to make it 10-3 with 2:56 left in the first.

Even foul trouble by the Tigers did not stop their run. CeCi Sherlock’s free throw cut it to 10-4, Kynah Steele hit two free throws to make it 12-4, but subsequently picked up her second foul. But then Hailey Adwell took over the remainder of the first quarter, scoring off a steal, hitting a three off a pass from Rylee Ruckman, and knocking down a shot from the left wing off a pass from Taylor Sanders. Sanders, who sparked the Tigers late against Stanberry and earned a start Monday night, added a three as the Tigers led 22-4.

Worth County took off its press to prevent more foul trouble, but the rest of the game belonged to Kynah Steele, who was all over the floor stealing the ball, jumping passes, and forcing the DeKalb players into violations. By the half, she was up to eight steals, and people were getting her the ball down low. The teams traded buckets for much of the second quarter until Abbi Brown hit Steele down low, Taylor Sanders hit a 3-pointer, and Liz Brown got one to Kynah inside to make it 37-12 at the half.

The Tigers started off strongly in the third quarter as Kynah Steele got a steal and drive, Paige Sherer got the ball into Abbi Brown, and Rylee Ruckman got a steal and Kynah Steele got the ball to Paige Sherer to make it 43-12. Worth County built the lead up to as much as 34 as Hailey Adwell hit Steele inside, Liz Brown scored a putback in transition, and Rylee Ruckman, after missing several tries, finally got a three pointer to go down to make it 50-16.

Harlie Hall jumped a pass for DeKalb and scored to make it 50-20 early in the fourth, but Worth County kept the running clock going as Bridgett got loose in transition as Rylee Ruckman got her the ball, Bridgett scored off a steal, Paige Sherer hit a shot from the right wing, and Kynah Steele scored on a putback.

The only tense point was whether Kynah Steele would get her 14th steal and set the school record by herself; after Worth County made a rare miscue by turning it over with about two minutes left, Kynah got it right back for the Tigers by forcing a traveling violation. The previous record holder was Anna Gladstone, who had 13. Marcy Ruckman, who is related to current Tiger Rylee Ruckman, had 12 on two occasions. Keitha Hart, who saved some of her best games for South Harrison her senior year in the 1982-1983 season, stole 12 against them in the Albany Tournament. On the junior high side, Rylee Ruckman had 13 steals last year in Pattonsburg.

Kynah Steele had 19 points for the Tigers. Taylor Sanders had 9, Hailey Adwell had 7, Liz Brown and Paige Sherer had 6, Abbi Brown and Bridgette Hightshoe 4 each, and Rylee Ruckman 3.

Liz Brown, Hailey Adwell, and Bridgette Hightshoe had 1 block.

So many of DeKalb’s possessions ended in turnovers that there were hardly any rebounding opportunities. Kynah Steele had 5, Abbi Brown 4, Liz Brown, Hailey Adwell, and Paige Sherer 3 each, and Rylee Ruckman 1.

Hailey Adwell had 5 assists. Rylee Ruckman had 4, Abbi Brown 3, Liz Brown and Paige Sherer 2 each, and Taylor Sanders, Kynah Steele, and Bridgette Hightshoe 1 each.

Hailey Adwell had 11 tips. Kynah Steele had 8, Paige Sherer 6, Abbi Brown 4, Bridgette Hightshoe 2, and Taylor Sanders and Liz Brown 1 each.

Kynah Steele had 14 steals, and the Tigers stole the ball 36 times as a team. Rylee Ruckman had 5, Abbi Brown, Hailey Adwell, and Paige Sherer had 4 each, Taylor Sanders had 3, and Bridgette Hightshoe 2.