Season ends for Wolverine girls with Regional loss to Kingsley-Pierson

A swarming Kingsley-Pierson defense helped bring the curtain down on the South O’Brien girls basketball season. The Wolverines shot just 16 percent in a 62-22 loss to K-P in a Class 1A Region 4 first round tournament game played February 9 at Kingsley. Victory proved elusive for South O’Brien as the team finished with a record of 0-22.
The Wolverines too brought the effort on the defensive end, but it wasn’t enough. “We played hard on defense,” commented South O’Brien head coach Erica Zimmer. This was the last game for Wolverine seniors Taja Conley, Takara Conley, Tatiana Conley, Ashlyn Gimer and Samantha Wilbur. Alyssa Van Beek is also a senior but was unable to play against the Panthers due to injury. “The seniors played hard the entire game and gave effort all year,” said Zimmer.
Marissa Ebel was 7-of-8 from the free throw line and finished with a team-high 10 points. Reagan Draper helped South O’Brien contend early with three first-quarter baskets for six points. Takara Conley hit a trey for her three points. Wilbur notched a hoop and two points and Chloe Hustedt sank a free throw to finish with one point. Ebel, Wilbur and Abby Nelson each supplied an assist.
The Wolverines were 6-of-38 from the field with two three-pointers in 10 tries. They went 8-for-10 at the charity stripe. Kingsley-Pierson attempted 24 free throws, making 17. The Panthers finished 20-of-53 from the floor, including 5-of-19 from beyond the arc.
South O’Brien won the battle of the boards 30-26. Draper grabbed eight rebounds, Wilbur six, Ebel and Taja Conley five each, Nelson and Takara Conley two apiece and Shayli Johnson and Tatiana Conley one each. Takara Conley came away with two steals while Ebel, Nelson, Draper and Tatiana Conley each had one theft. The Wolverines were guilty of 14 turnovers while Kingsley-Pierson turned the ball over 13 times.
S. O’Brien
6 8 3 5 – 22
K-P
11 14 19 18 – 62