Elaina Lahmers (30) of Fairbanks leaps for a layup as Abby Price (5) of North Union attempts to block her shot on Monday. Lahmers tallied nine points during the Lady Panthers’ 55-28 victory. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
When one team is at the top of its game and the other is at the bottom, you get a lopsided 55-28 score.
That told the story of Monday’s girls hoop game between Union County rivals Fairbanks and North Union.
The Lady Panthers came out the victors after they played what oach Landon Fraker called their most complete game.
“I think the key was our post players,” he said. “They are starting to produce. They are getting rebounds and scoring, which is opening it up for our perimeter players.”
The inside production came the trio of Macy Miller, Lillian Miller and Emma Kugel. They combined for 20 points and 23 of FHS’ 35 rebounds.
Fairbanks’ inside crew got to work as Macy Miller and Kugel combined for six points.
Fairbanks’ outside shooters added four buckets as the Panthers soared to a 14-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
The young Lady Cats struggled to find much offense during that time.
Coach Bre Nauman said the game was a learning experience for her team.
“We are going to have ups and downs,” she said. “This is a learning experience, but you can’t put yourself down 14-3 and think that every game is going to be a track meet.”
NU’s only bucket of the stanza came from Jordyn Hoffman.
The Lady Cats committed 27 turnovers, while Fairbanks also took the ball away 12 times during the game.
Although NU had its best quarter of the game during the second set with 10 points, FHS’ defense held strong with solid face guarding.
Fraker said he knew the Cats were a good shooting team, so he kept the defense tight.
“We are good enough basketball players that we can tinker with the defense,” he said. “All the screens were switched because North Union is so perimeter-oriented.”
The defense paid off as Fairbanks took a 29-13 lead into the half.
The second half was more of the same.
Fairbanks continued to play stiff defense and work the ball inside.
NU struggled to find the bottom of the basket.
Nauman said as the gap widened, her young team struggled to keep afloat.
The Panthers piled on the points, taking a 44-20 lead into the final stanza.
NU’s Hoffman and Jada Davis added a pair of treys.
However, the damage was too great to overcome as the Lady Cats fall to 4-3 for the season.
Fairbanks increased their record to 5-4 for the season. The Lady Panthers are scheduled to return to action Wednesday at Southeastern, while NU will also play Wednesday at Ridgemont.
Fairbanks
M. Miller 6-0-12, Lehman 6-0-12, Lahmers 4-0-9, Kugel 3-0-6, Carter 2-2-6, Rausch 3-0-6, L. Miller 1-0-2, Poling 1-0-2. Totals: 26-2-55.
Three-point goal: Lahmers 1.
North Union
Hoffman 4-0-9, Davis 2-2-8, Benedict 2-0-5, Kohler 1-0-3, Moran 1-0-2, Price 0-1-1, Totals: 10-3-28.
Three-point goals: Davis 2, Hoffman 1, Benedict 1, Kohler 1.