Dodge City, Kansas

After a deflating loss on Friday night to Quinter 42-38 in the girls semi-finals, Coach Brian Ebert was encouraging his team to have amnesia and forget what happened and move on to today. The lady Wildcats did just that, as they dominated Norwich to claim a third place finish at the 1A Division I state tournament by a 49-23 final.

Norwich started off with the first basket, but Frankfort would answer with an 8-0 before Norwich answered to climb back in it with Frankfort clinging to an 8-6 lead at the end of the first. In the second, Frankfort got going, and so did Junior Hattie Gros, as she cashed eight second quarter points to go with six in the first to pace the Wildcats with 14 in the first half. In the second frame, Frankfort outscored Norwich 14-4 to lead 22-10 at the break.

In the second half, it was business as usualy for Frankfort, exploding for nineteen third quarter points and extending their lead to 41-18 at the end of three. In the quarter, Gros continued to dominate, scoring eight more points to get her tally to 22 in the game. Junior Sydney Wapp also exploded for eight in the stanza to aid the Wildcats to pull away. As we went to the fourth, Frankfort saw pressure from Norwich, but took it in stride to cruise through to take third place and "propel them into next year" as coach Ebert was hoping they would do. 

The lone senior for Frankfort, Taryn Parthemer finished her career with two points in the game but played phenomenal defense in her final game as a Wildcat. Gros led all scorers with 22 points and six rebounds, while Wapp ended 10, Junior Emma Hardwick finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds. The 'Cats shot an astounding 54% from the floor, including 30% from three. 

This team will return 11 of the 12 on the state roster heading into next season, as Coach Ebert will look to use this years state experience and third place finish as a "trampoline effect" heading into next season. Frankfort finishes their season with a 22-4 record, placing 3rd in the state tournament. Congratulations Wildcats on a great season!