Comets fall in Region XVI semifinals

Nevada Daily Mail

SEDALIA, Mo. -- The St. Louis Community College Lady Archers pulled away in the second half with a pair of 8-0 runs and defeated the Cottey Comets by a final score of 56-36, Saturday afternoon in the NJCAA D-II Region XVI semifinals at State Fair Community College.

"We played well on the defensive end of the floor limiting a good St. Louis team to 56 points. I was pleased with our effort there," Comets head coach Dave Ketterman said.

"We just could not get into any good flow or rhythm on offense. You have to credit St. Louis with that as they put bigger, more athletic defenders on our primary scorers."

Kalah Martin scored 18 points and Lauren Maclin added 15 to lead St. Louis. Kat Zumalt led the Comets with 18 points, including 12 in the second half.

Chelsea Rowland, Bailee Braden and Blaklee Sanders each had four points for the Comets, while Petra Stankovic added three and Caryli Ingles and Cassie Hale each had two. The Comets struggled from the free-throw line in the contest, making just five of 13 attempts, while SLCC went 11-for-18.

Cottey freshman Dayna Turnbull missed the game because of a recent sprained ankle.

"The absence of our playmaker, Dayna Turnbull, was a big factor in the outcome," Ketterman said. "She makes so many plays for us and sets up our other scorers."

Ketterman's Comets finished the season 16-4 -- the best winning percentage in program history -- and spent 12 consecutive weeks in the NJCAA D-II Top 25 from December to February. Turnbull and second-year Comet Blaklee Sanders were named to the All-Region first team, while Bailey Braden and Selena Gochenour named to the All-Region second team.

With the win, the Lady Archers moved on to play top-seeded Penn Valley at 2 p.m., Sunday afternoon, in the regional championship game.

The Lady Scouts defeated North Central Missouri, 66-48, in Saturday's other semi-final game. In the championship game, St. Louis beat the Lady Scouts by a final score of 66-54.

With Sunday's win, the Lady Archers move on to face North Arkansas College for the District P Championship and a bid in the NJCAA National Championship tournament on March 9.