Lady Red’s Hail Mary Heave Sinks Salina Central

Bree Horyna looked at coach Brandi Fowler and said, “football?”  Coach Fowler answered yes.  It was a play the team had practiced going back to coach Carter Kruger’s days as head coach.  Salina Central had just tied Liberal 58-58 with .4 seconds left.  Horyna fired a pass to Rylie Hallman who caught the pass and banked in a shot from about 15 feet away to give the Lady Redskins their fourth straight Salina Invitational Tournament title. The Liberal girls celebrated the title Saturday afternoon at Salina South High School.

Liberal led the game most of the way and led by as many as 16 (53-37) in the fourth quarter.  Salina Central made a mad dash to the finish line which fell just short.

The Lady Red jumped out to an 8-2 lead and led 12-9 after one quarter.  LHS led 22-13, 24-15, 27-17, and 29-18.  But a 10-1 run by the 4th ranked Lady Mustangs made it 30-28 Liberal at the half.  The Lady Redskins jumped on Salina Central in the third quarter taking a 39-30 lead with 5:09.  LHS led 46-34 and led 51-37 after three quarters.  The Lady Red roared to their biggest lead at 16 53-37 with 6:53 to play.  Salina Central ripped off a 12-0 run to make it 53-49.  Liberal took a 55-49 lead.  Liberal led 58-53 with 25 seconds left.  Liberal led 58-55 with 11 seconds left.  Liberal fouled Salina Central sharp shooter Aubrie Kierscht on a three pointer with .4 seconds left.  She made all three to tie the game setting up Liberal football play.  It was Hallman’s only basketball of the game.

Ashley Carrillo scored 21 to lead Liberal.  Bree Horyna added 12 points and nine rebounds.  Aubrey Warden had 11 points and seven rebounds.  Halle Payton made four more three pointers for 12 points.  Payton made nine three pointers in the tournament which is second in the tournament’s history trailing Liberal Ali Lucero who made 10 in 2016.

Liberal has won four straight Salina Invitational Tournament championships.  That equals Salina Central’s total.  LHS has won 12 straight games in the tournament.  Liberal is 16-5 in the tournament in seven years and Salina Central is 26-7.  Central is 9-2.

Liberal plays at Gruver Tuesday night shortly after 6 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.