HAYS — The strong play of the Lady Dragon bench was critical in the 53-47 victory over a good Lady Falcon Team Wednesday, in the first round of the 1A Division II State Basketball tournament in Hays.

Wilson proved that they can compete without the services of senior Karlie Steinle, who ran into foul trouble late in the fourth quarter. Senior Lady Dragons Kasey Davis, Antjelica Pfannenstiel and Tanisha Steinke did a great job on the defensive side of the ball and junior Shania Steinike made the shots when the Lady Dragons needed them.

The solid post-play of junior Dreamer Roberson was also a major factor in the win.

It was an exciting game of basketball, as the final outcome was undecided until the final minute of the game.

The Lady Dragons will meet another quality basketball team, when they play top-seeded and undefeated Ingalls at 3 p.m. Friday at Gross Memorial Stadium on the campus of Fort Hays State University in Hays.

Tournament notes: Second-seeded Norwich had little trouble vanquishing the Lady Hornets of Dighton 56-35, but senior point guard Haley Rust suffered a minor ankle injury early in the fourth quarter of the game and the Lady Eagles could not score until she re-entered the game.

The Cinderella team of the tournament proved to be the Rexford-Golden Plains Lady Eagles — a team comprised of one senior and a lot of juniors that literally beat-up a good Hope basketball team in the first half of their 58-42 win.

The Lady Lions rallied in the third quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs are a very good basketball team and got the win. They have a lot of height, quickness, good ball-handling skills and are in excellent physical condition. The Lady Bulldogs did not substitute a single player in the first half of the game and looked unfazed by the halftime break.

Read about the Lady Dragons’ journey at the 1A Division II State tournament in the March 14 edition of the I-R.