Loyal leads from start to finish in ECC win over Greenwood

The Greenwood girls basketball team stayed within striking distance of Loyal for most of the first half in the team’s Dec. 2 match-up at Loyal, but too many turnovers and missed shot attempts eventually allowed the Greyhounds to pull away for a 50-27 Eastern Cloverbelt Conference win. Loyal took advantage of numerous Greenwood miscues, turning turnovers into offensive opportunities. The Greyhounds could not find their range from the perimeter -- hitting only three of 20 attempts from 3-point range -- but were able to score enough in the lane to put the game away.

Loyal led by only five points at 16-11 with 5:30 to go in the first half after Greenwood guard Avry Wuethrich scored on a drive and drew a foul. From there, Loyal mounted a 9-0 run powered by a baseline jumper from freshman Addysen Wolf and then a 3-pointer from her with 2:28 to play in the half. Wuethrich canned a jumper shortly before the half to make it a 25-13 game at the break.

Loyal’s 11-2 burst to start the second half quickly put the game in its control. Autumn Zvolena scored twice on the offensive boards during the run and Wolf added another score on the glass to put Loyal ahead 36-15 with 10:34 showing on the clock. Lainy Trampush sank a 3-pointer from the corner for Greenwood to end the run, but Loyal answered with an Anna Lindner steal and score and a 3-pointer from Olivia Nikolai to power ahead 41-18.

Loyal shot 35 percent (19-55) overall, but converted 46 percent (16-35) from inside the 3-point line. The Greyhounds turned 16 free-throw chances into nine points.

Greenwood shot 28 percent (11-40) overall and went 1-7 on 3-pointers. That one came from Wuethrich on a long bomb at the final buzzer. Greenwood went 3-for-12 on free throws. Wolf led Loyal with 14 points. Autumn Zvolena had a 9-point, 8-rebound game, Nikolai added nine points, and Anna Lindner scored seven. Wuethrich’s 13 points led Greenwood. Freshman Tatym Travis grabbed six rebounds for the Indians. Loyal’s next game is at Colby on Dec. 9, and it will host Stratford on Dec. 13. Greenwood plays at Spencer on Dec. 9 and travels to Independence on Dec. 12 (5:45 p.m. game start time).

DEAN LESAR/STAFF PHOTO