The Abilene High School basketball teams traveled to Clay Center Friday night for Abilene’s final games before playing in the Salina Invitational Tournament next week.
Game one featured a battle of state ranked teams as the undefeated, defending state champions, Lady Tigers entered the game ranked 2nd in 4A Division II. The Cowgirls entered the match-up ranked ninth in 4A Division I and came into the contest with a 7-1 record and a 19 game winning streak in the NCKL. All that would come to an end as Clay Center defeated Abilene 51-44.
Abilene led 14-12 after one quarter of play, but Clay Center Senior Allie Wright-Fredrick got going in the second quarter. Wright-Fredrick hit three three’s in the second quarter and hit a total of four in the first half to help give Clay Center a 25-22 edge at halftime. Wright-Fredrick finished with a game high 19 points.
In the second half, Clay Center Senior Lauren Lane took over the scoring load as she scored 13 of her 17 points in the final two quarters. The Lady Tigers led 35-31 entering the final quarter. In the fourth Abilene never got any closer than three points as Clay Center held for the victory.
Abilene 7-2, 3-1 was led by Senior McKenzie Funston, who totaled 13 points on the night. The Cowgirls enter the S.I.T. tournament as the three seed and will play Salina South at 6:30 at Salina South on Thursday night.
The second game was never close as the Cowboys blew out Clay Center 69-33. Abilene 7-1, 4-0 was led in scoring by Senior Ryan Wilson, who finished with 14 points.
The Cowboys enter the S.I.T. as the three seed and will face Goodland Thursday at 4:45 also at Salina South High School.
