ANSLEY- Arcadia nailed free-throws down the stretch and shot earned a trip to the second round of the LVC Tournament as they got by Twin Loup 39-31, Tuesday night.
The Lady Huskies held a 22-15 lead at halftime and made just three field goals in the second half, but were able to get good play in the paint from Shayla Trotter, Gabi Ritz and Sapphire Sillivan to force Twin Loup into foul situations. Sillivan gave Twin Loup fits all night as she scored 17 points including 5-for-7 at the free-throw line. Ritz added 10 points including 4-for-9 from the line. As a team, Arcadia shot 60 percent from the free-throw line.
Twin Loup kept the game close and pulled to within 27-25 at the end of the third quarter. However, they struggled offensively and could only muster up six points in the fourth quarter, compared to 12 for Arcadia.
Shayna Dunbar led Twin Loup with 16 points and Monica Keith added 12.
Arcadia is now 11-8. Twin Loup falls to 8-8.
In the second game at Ansley, the Lady Warriors rolled to victory 54-24 over Anselmo-Merna. Ansley caught steam early as they scored 33 first half points and then held the Lady Coyotes to just eight second half points.
Ansley had three players in double figures as Katie Drake, Courtney Marsh and Siera Rohde each had 14 points to lead all scorers.
Victoria Downey had nine points for Anselmo-Merna while Katie Kirkpatrick added six.
Ansley improves to 15-2 and Anselmo-Merna falls to 1-15.
In the other LVC girls’ games, Litchfield upset Mullen 51-29 and Sandhills/Thedford defeated South Loup 50-38.
The LVC semifinals are set. They will take place Thursday evening at Broken Bow High School. The boys will play first. Sandhills/Thedford will face Mullen at 4 p.m. followed by Twin Loup against South Loup. In the girls’ semifinals, it will be Sandhills/Thedford facing Arcadia followed by Litchfield against Ansley.