Third-quarter domination propels Leavenworth girls to Kansas 5A semifinals

Defending Kansas Class 5A girls state champion Leavenworth was sailing along in the second quarter with a 10-point lead over Newton. Then the Pioneers gave up 12 straight points, and the game was tied at halftime.

Leavenworth, though, recovered in the third quarter and limited Newton to just two points. That dominance propelled the Pioneers to a 49-31 victory Wednesday at the Kansas Expocentre.

“The first four minutes of the third quarter, we went as hard as we could go,” said Leavenworth senior LaToshia Jones, who finished with a game-high 16 points. “We tried to finish the game with composure.”

Defense and the inside play of 6-foot-3 senior center Rachel Blackburn keyed the one-sided third quarter for Leavenworth. Blackburn scored six points, helping the Pioneers outscore Newton 12-2.

Early in the game, it appeared Leavenworth was going to cruise to a blowout. The Pioneers scored the first seven points, but Newton hung close early thanks to three three-pointers by senior Taylor Stahly.

Leavenworth entered the second quarter with a 14-11 lead and again scored the period’s first seven points, good for a 21-11 lead. Newton responded with a 12-0 run and jumped to a 23-21 lead.

Leavenworth tied the game just before halftime.

Leavenworth (21-2) will play the Kapaun Mount Carmel-Topeka Seaman winner in a semifinal at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

This story was originally published March 11, 2015 at 8:24 PM with the headline "Third-quarter domination propels Leavenworth girls to Kansas 5A semifinals."