Dodge City, Kansas

The Doniphan West Mustang girls are headed to their first ever state title game on Saturday at 4:00PM in Dodge City. In a game that saw runs by both teams, double digit leads by both teams, it was the endurance and stamina from the Lady Mustangs that helped lead them to another state tournament win, this time against top overall seed Norwich (22-3). 

Early on it was all Norwich, as the Eagles saw Braylin Kelly score the games first seven points, putting Norwich up 7-0. D-West would finally grab their first bucket 5 minutes into the game before Norwich ended the frame on a 4-2 run to lead 11-4 heading into the second. 

The Eagles began the quarter on a 6-1 run to extend to their largest lead of the game, 12. The Mustangs would get going at the halfway mark in the second, outscoring Norwich 14-6 down the stretch to climb back within four at halftime 23-19. Sophomore guard Brennah Edie was the spark for D-West, scoring six of her eight first half points in the second quarter. The defensive pressure also started to pick up in the second as the Eagles had six second quarter turnovers finishing with 10 total in the first half. 

The start of the second half, looked similar to the start of the game with Doniphan West struggling to get a basket early in the stanza and saw Norwich extend the lead midway in the third to eight at 29-21. This is when the game changed, as the defensive pressure had finally broke down the Eagles and the Mustangs were able to do what they do best. RUN. 

Doniphan West, trailing 29-21, would go on an extended 31-9 run from the 2:30 mark of the third quarter to close the door on Norwich and punch their first ever trip to the state title game. Defensive is what the Mustangs pride themselves on, and defense is what has propelled them during this tournament run. Forcing 20 turnovers against the Eagles, and getting 17 points off of those turnovers flipped this game on its head. Now in the state tournament, D-West has forced 38 turnovers in their two games, while only turning the ball over 18 times in those games.

The Mustangs were led by Junior Malaina Whetstine, who had just two points in the first half, but scored fifteen in the second to lead all scorers with 17. Senior Avery Weathersbee nearly had a double-double finishing with 12 points and 9 rebounds in the game. Senior Kyra Johnson finished with 9 points and 6 boards while playing phenomenal defense against top scorer in 6' Kirsten Adams who averaged 14 per game and ended with only 8. Edie finished with eight, while Clair Cole chipped in six. 

Doniphan West will play in the 1A Division I State Championship game Saturday at 4:00PM against either TVL foe  #3 Seed Frankfort or #2 Quinter. Coverage will be on 103.9FM KNZA with pregame approximately at 3:40