Alli Burke had a career night for Gilman City’s girls Saturday and Gilman City won its first district tournament in 17 years, downing Tri-County 61-32 in a game that was much more one-sided than expected. Tri-County and Gilman City are just a few miles apart, and most games between them are rivalry games.
The Hawks had gotten back off the floor after seeing their 17 game winning streak end at the hands of Princeton, beating North Harrison handily in the semifinals to start a new winning streak. But the Mustangs, after playing on their heels in a 46-27 loss to Pattonsburg in December, showed they were one of the most improved teams in the area. They were peaking at the right time and had won five out of their last six, including a 48-42 win over a very physical East Harrison squad, in which they crashed the boards relentlessly to come back and win after trailing for much of the game.
Kelsey Sperry inbounded to Khloey Sperry to start the game, but the Mustangs were trying all they could to get Zoie Williams loose, isolating her against Avery Gregg in the post and trying to spring her loose with her left hand and her spin move. Williams tied it at 2 and 4 for the Mustangs, but then Alli Burke struck for the Hawks, hitting a 3-pointer off a pass from Avery Gregg. Shelby Gibson drove and scored and Kelsey hit Khloey again to make it 11-4 and prompt a timeout. Tri-County was trying to stop Khloey Sperry inside, but that left Burke open from downtown all night long.
The timeout didn’t help as Khloey Sperry went coast to coast to score and then Alli Burke slashed and scored, and then stepped back and hit another 3-pointer to make it 18-6, prompting another Mustang timeout.
Zoie Williams hit a 3-pointer and Tri-County went to their three quarters court trap to try to get the ball back and create some chaos. After hitting a low point in December, they went back to when Coach Slaughter was in charge and they were living and dying by their three quarters court press, yielding them a lot of wins in the process. But the Hawks were ready for it and they kept pulling away as Avery Gregg hit Shelby Gibson inside, added a 3-pointer, and then got a steal and drive to make it 25-9 after one quarter.
Dani Critten hit a free throw for the Mustangs to start the second quarter, but Khloey Sperry scored off a putback as the Hawks started crashing the boards hard. Alli Burke scored off a drive, Shelby Gibson got a steal and aired it out to Avery Gregg, and Shelby Gibson got a putback to make it 33-10.
Lily Turner, one of two promsing freshmen for the Mustangs, got them on the board with a coast to coast move, but Khloey Sperry got a putback and Alli Burke cut inside and scored to make it 37-13. Alexis Neeley knocked down a backdoor shot after the Hawks collapsed to stop Williams, but Khloey Sperry hit a free throw, Ali Burke and Avery Gregg hit 3-pointers, and Khloey Sperry scored off a steal to make it 46-15 before Neeley cut it to 46-17 at the half.
But Tri-County won 17 games for a reason, and it was only a matter of time before their run came. Sure enough, a totally different Mustang team came out to start the second half. Both Sperry sisters got three fouls and the Mustangs were doing a much better job of getting to the rim as Turner scored off a drive and Zoie Williams converted a three point play after going coast to coast to make it 45-22.
Alli Burke’s outburst in the first half opened up the inside, and Khloey Sperry was able to work the inside at will during the next stretch as she scored six and Avery Gregg added a drive as the Hawks rebuilt their lead to 54-22.
But then the foul trouble mounted as Khloey Sperry picked up her fourth foul and the Mustangs started coming back again. With her out, Zoie Williams started finding driving lanes open and scoring to cut the Hawk lead to 54-26. Williams drove and scored to cut it to 54-28 as Khloey had to be careful with four fouls, but an inside shot by Sperry stopped the bleeding and made it 56-28.
Allee Prescott cut inside and scored to make it 56-30, but then Alli Burke got a steal and converted a three point play to make it 59-30 and the Mustangs finally threw in the towel. Pyper Taggart scored from inside down the stretch as the reserves were able to get in on the act.
Khloey Sperry had 21 for the Hawks. Alli Burke had 18, Avery Gregg 17, Shelby Gibson 8, and Pyper Taggart 2.
Khloey Sperry had 3 blocks. Avery Gregg had 2 and Alli Burke had 1.
Kelsey Sperry went beast mode, getting 15 boards. Khloey Sperry had 8, Shelby Gibson 7, Alli Burke 5, Avery Gregg 2, and Pyper Taggart 1.
Avery Gregg had 6 assists. Kelsey Sperry and Shelby Gibson had 5, Khloey Sperry 2, and Alli Burke and Caitlynn Chalfant 1.
Khloey Sperry had 5 tips. Kelsey Sperry and Alli Burke had 3, and Shelby Gibson and Avery Gregg 2.
Shelby Gibson had 5 steals. Kelsey Sperry had 4, Avery Gregg 3, Khloey Sperry 2, and Alli Burke and Pyper Taggart 1.
The win was Gilman City’s 22nd, their most since the 2007-2008 season and the 2005-2006 season, when they also won 22. They were scheduled to play at Santa Fe Tuesday night for sectionals.
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