Lady bears defeat Hugoton in semi slugfest

     The Sterling Lady Black Bears and the Hugoton Lady Eagles staged a slugfest in a  physical back and forth battle in the first semi-final of the Sterling Girls Invitational. The Lady Bears survived 47-43 to put themselves in Friday's championship game.
    Sterling would convert 20 of its 47 points from the free-throw line while making only 11 field goals for 24% for the game. It, however, was enough to overcome a young, tough Eagle team.
     Hugoton jumped out to a 7 point lead with just under two minutes left in the first before the Bears would roar back to close the deficit to three 12-9 at the end of the first period. The familiar tournament foes fought evenly in the second quarter with the Eagles maintaining their three-point lead at the break, 24-21.
     Sterling would close the gap to one point after three quarters, 33-32. In the fourth Sterling would finally take the lead and run out to a 7 point lead and held off the Eagles the rest of the way for secure the victory.
​     The Eagles were led in scoring by Johanna Rawlins with 12 points and Jordyn Beard who hauled down 12 rebounds.  Taya Wilson once again led the Bears i with 13 points while Kinzie Comley chipped in 9 and Camille Schweizer added 7.

Sterling will face Beloit in the championship game at Sterling College.