Photo by Paul Trende
In a 1A quarterfinal versus Fillmore Central, Kingsland’s bench was key to victory. Versus Grand Meadow (3-seed, 22-6), it was a key Lark bench player that helped Ryan Queensland’s group finally get a win over the Knights (2-seed, 19-8). The Larks used a methodical offense and a couple different defenses to suppress Kingsland. The Knights got off to a good start, 8-3, getting back-to-back threes from Shelby Beck to start the game. But GM then scored on four straight possessions, tallying a 9-0 run to take a 12-8 lead. Junior reserve guard Sydney Cotten had five of those points. Just minutes later, she had five more points in a 9-3 Lark run. GM built a 21-13 lead. The Larks netted just one more field goal the rest of the half. Knight Audrey Webster scored nine straight Knight points. By halftime, GM’s lead was 25-22. The start of the second half was defensive. GM got the stanza’s first field goal with 13:10 on the clock. The teams each had one field goal the first eight-plus minutes, a war of attrition between SEC-West rivals who know each other very well (GMLOKS track and field and GMLOK softball teammates). Kingsland’s second make of the second half, a Beck bucket, tied the game at 27-27. But Kendyl Queensland immediately followed with a three. GM then scored on four straight possessions under the 7-minute mark. The last was huge three-pointer by junior guard McKenna Hendrickson. It put the underdog Larks up 39-31 (4:01). Kingsland’s offense struggled versus GM’s zone. They hit nine threes for the game, but just four two-point baskets. In the end, Cotten was in the spotlight. She hit 5 of 5 free throws in the final minute. Lauren Queensland added two more. GM lost to Kingsland twice this year, 51-29 and 52-45. They lost to Kingsland twice each the last two years (including getting held to 48 total points in two games in 2021). The Larks picked a good time to end a six-game skid versus their eastern neighbor. By a final of 46-37, they moved on to their first 1A final! Cotten, who moved to the bench when Lexy Foster returned from injury, paced GM with 15 points (3-5 FGs, 7-7 FTs). She was the only Lark in double figures. River Landers (8 pts, 4-6 FGs), L-Queensland (6 pts, 8 rebs), Hendrickson (6 pts, 7 rebs), Foster (5 pts, 8 rebs), and K-Queensland (6 pts, 4 asts) all contributed. Kingsland was led by seniors Beck (15 pts, 4-6 threes, 7 rebs) and Webster (12 pts, 3-7 threes, 5 rebs). Katelyn Hauser added six points off the Knight bench. Ten total Knights played but the other seven combined for just four points (2 of 26 FGs). GM shot better (14 of 46 > 30%) then Kingsland (13 of 53 > 25%), albeit neither shot well. The Larks were plus-10 at the free throw line; 12 of 15 (80%) to Kingsland’s 2 of 4 (50%). Meadow out-scored the Knights 16 to 6 in the paint. It was the 18th time this season GM held an opponent under 40 points. They had done so in every SEC game, save the two losses to Kingsland. They finally got the Knights. Kingsland finishes at 19-9. Steve Hauser graduates a big senior class that includes multi-year key contributors Beck, Webster, Alexys Harwood, Kennedy Fenske, and Emily Miner plus Elise O’Connor. They won SEC division titles all four years of high school. GM (23-6) moves on to face Hayfield (1-seed, 30-0) in the 1A final. It is the GM girl’s first ever section final.