By Mark Schnabel
Newton Kansan
The Wichita Trinity Academy women’s basketball team held off a late comeback by Olathe East to claim a 35-30 victory Saturday in the seventh-place game of the 47th Newton Invitational Tournament.
Olathe East was called up to complete the pool and prevent a bye in the seventh place match.
Kourney Koster led the 3-9 Knights with nine points. Annie Duerksen and Tara Wills each scored eight points.
Meredith Reese led the Hawks 3-9 with 20 points, making four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and six for the game.
Back-to-back 3-pointers put Trinity Academy up by seven in the final minute of the first quarter. Meredith Reese hit a 3-pointer for East at the buzzer to bring the Hawks back within four, 11-7.
The Knights struggled with turnovers and fouls in the second quarter, but East managed to score just three points on a layup and one of five free throws. Trinity ended the half with two free throws and a short jump to make it 15-10 at the half.
Trinity extended his run to start the third quarter with a layup. East ended the run with a triple from Meredith Reese, but the Knights responded with a Koster trey.
Trinity led 24-15 at the end of the period and scored the first five points of the fourth quarter.
East came back on an 8-0 run. Thasanee Wilmeth broke up the run with two free throws with 1:25 in regulation. Reese hit a trey with four seconds left to bring the Hawks within four. Annie Duerksen closed out the game with one of two free throws.
OLATHE EAST (3-9) — Rogers 1 0-1 2, 2; Mispagel 0 0-0 2, 0; Whitehead 0 1-2 4, 1; Mills 0 0-0 0, 0; Coles 0 1-4 1, 4; J. Reese 3 0-0 0.6; M.Reese 1(6) 0-0 4.20; TOTAL 5 (6) 2-7 13, 30.
WICHITA TRINITY ACADEMY (3-9) — Duerksen 1 (1) 3-4 4, 8; Balzer 0 0-0 0, 0; Koester 1 (2) 1-3 3, 9; Cilewa 0 2-2 1, 2; Will 0 (2) 2-2 0, 8; Linder 0 0-0 1, 0; Smith 3 0-0 3, 6; Wilmeth 0 2-3 2, 2; TOTAL 5 (5) 10-14 14, 35.
W.East;7;3;5;15;—;30
W.TrinityAc.;11;4;9;11;—;35
