Lady Redskins Win Second Straight Salina Invitational

The Liberal Lady Redskins and Redskinettes haven’t exactly stocked the trophy case during mid season tournaments in the past.  Liberal never won the Colby Orange and Black Classic or the Newton tournament which the program had attended in the past.  The 1987 girls won the tournament at Great Bend.  But times are changing.  Saturday night in front of throngs of maroon wearing Salina Central fans, Liberal stunned the home folks again with a 59-48 win over Salina Central in the Salina Invitational Tournament championship game at Mabee  Arena at Kansas Wesleyan in Salina.  It’s Liberal’s second consecutive SIT championship.

Katie Horyna was named the tournament MVP and overcame an ankle injury to score 16 points.  Machia Mullens was also named all tournament and scored 12 points.  Audrey Gilmore and Whitney Hay scored 11 a piece.  Aubrey Warden had eight.

The Lady Mustangs, who have made state three consecutive seasons, led 9-2 and 11-3 early.  Salina Central led 13-10 after one quarter.  The Lady Red reeled off a 7-0 run to lead 17-13.  Liberal led 21-18 at the half.  Liberal bolted out of the halftime locker room to build a lead of 42-25.  But Katie Horyna took a nasty spill on a lay up attempt and injured her ankle.  Salina Central crept back into the game with Horyna sidelined.  Central made it a 46-39 game.  But Horyna hobbled back into the game and restored order.  The Lady Red lead quickly ballooned back to 16 at 56-40.

Liberal made 7-11 three pointers but 13-24 free throws.  Central was 3-13 from 3 and 7-16 at the foul line.

The marked the third consecutive season the two programs played in the SIT championship game.  Liberal is 11-0 for the first time since 1976 when the Redskinettes were 19-0 and won state.  Salina Central is 7-4 with losses to two #1 teams, a #4 team, and a #5 team.  Liberal plays at Hugoton Friday night at 6:30 with Redskin Pre-game at 6:15 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.