Sterling's Second Half Comeback Tops Broncos

(Sterling, KS) – Hastings led by as many as 17 in the second half, but the Sterling Warriors came back to defeat the Broncos, 94-91, as the last-second three by sophomore McKenna Yates, who had a team-high 18 points, bounced off the rim.

Sterling led to begin the game, with Hastings getting its first lead at 11-10 five minutes in on a three-pointer from sophomore Josilyn Miller. Later in the quarter, Yates converted a three-point play to go up 19-15 with 1:52 left. The Warriors closed the quarter on a 7-3 run to lead 22-21.

The Warriors led 29-27 in the second quarter, then Yates responded with a personal 8-0 run on a layup and a pair of triples to go up 35-32. Hastings was able to create some distance the rest of the half on the scoreboard, as Yates scored six more points in the quarter, and a layup in the final minute of the half by senior Mariyah Avila put the Broncos up 51-40 going to half.

Hastings opened the second half with a quick 6-0 run to go up 17, stealing the ball three times in the process. After a Warrior basket, Avila answered with another basket, which also marked her 1000th career point with the Broncos, to go up 59-42 with 7:50 remaining in the third. Sterling slowly started to come back from there, getting the lead under 10 at the 5:16 mark. Avila knocked down a jumper to keep the Broncos up seven at 73-66 heading to the fourth.

Sterling scored on five of their first six possessions of the fourth to take a 79-78 lead with 6:37 left. Hastings retook the lead briefly a couple of times with back-to-back buckets from sophomore Adyson Mlnarik. Leading 84-83, Sterling stole the momentum back with a score, followed by a stop and another score to take a 87-84 lead with 3:26 to go.

The Warriors led 89-84 with under three minutes left, but the Broncos would not go away. Sophomore Jentri Marx split a pair at the line and turned a block at the other end into a layup for sophomore Ann Bose, making it 89-87 with 1:48 left. After a stop, Sterling got a steal and layup to go back up four.

With Sterling holding a 92-87 lead after a free throw, Mlnarik got fouled and hit both from the line. Back down five again after Sterling free throws, Marx scored inside with 15 seconds left, making it 94-91. Hastings forced a turnover and got a three-point look for Yates at the buzzer, but it would not go, as Sterling held on for the 94-91 win.

Sterling shot 53.5 percent from the field to Hastings' 41.2 percent. Hastings was able to force 20 Warrior turnovers, leading points off turnovers, 29-18. Yates finished with 18 points and seven rebounds. Avila had 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists. Mlnarik came off the bench to score 14 points and collect four rebounds. Bose was also in double-figures with 13 points, to go along with three rebounds.