The Manhattan High girls basketball team went into Saturday nights championship contest with McPherson wanting to improve on a second place finish in the Mid America Classic a season ago. They most certainly did just that with a 44-37 victory to win the 19th annual Mid America Classic at the Roundhouse in McPherson.
Manhattan coasted through the first two games with wins over Hays and Shawnee Mission South with ease, but it didn’t come easy against McPherson. Mac had the home court advantage on their side even though it was a tournament setting. It was close throughout the entire ball game with McPherson taking a 25-23 lead into halftime.
The Tribe defense locked down in the second half outscoring McPherson 21-12 to take home the title. Manhattan shot 46% from the field in the game and holding McPherson to just 33% from the floor even with Abby Pederson dropping in a game high 20 points for the Bullpups. Darby Price and Caroline Ballard had 13 and 11 points respectively in the ball game as both girls were named to the All Tournament Team. They were joined by Pederson, Brittany Meyer of Andale and Regan Stone of Olathe East.
Manhattan (12-1) will enjoy a little time off and get back to Centennial league action next Friday night on the road at Topeka High.
