By TYLER HENRY
Salina Post contributor
As the 2022-23 regular season draws to a close, the Chapman and Abilene girls’ basketball teams will square off for one final game ahead of next week’s 4A sub-state tournament.
This will be the second meeting between the two, with Abilene stealing the opener 37-34 just before the winter break.
Since that meeting, the Lady Irish have been playing some of their best basketball and will come into this contest at 11-8 riding a three-game winning streak, while the Cowgirls look to close out their campaign on a high note at 2-16.
“Our confidence is greater than it has been at any time in the past,” Chapman head coach Michael Wahlmeier said. “We’ve won close games and we’ve won some big games, they believe they can beat anybody right now.”
For Abilene to recapture lighting in a bottle and sweep their biggest rival on the road, the Cowgirls will need to implement all of the lessons they have learned over four complete quarters in hostile territory.
“We’re starting to understand the game better and they’re putting themselves in positions to be successful,” Abilene head coach Shawn Herrman said. “I still want to see us compete on both ends of the floor and not throw in the towel.”
The first faceoff between these two teams left quite a bad taste in the mouths of the Lady Irish, and Chapman will be eager to get back at a hated league foe in front of their home crowd.
“Records go right out the window in this game,” Wahlmeier said. “We learned not to take anyone lightly and that there are no easy games in this league. Dannefer is a really good basketball player and she’s surrounded by a good team. We’ll rely on good team defense not only to keep her from going off but also to keep others from having a good game.”
On the other side of the matchup, the Cowgirls are locked in and will be ready for a battle as Abilene scraps to find some late momentum ahead of postseason play next week.
“They’re very good at the guard position and can really hurt you off the dribble,” Herrman said. “They also have a post player that can finish around the bucket. We have to be able to guard the perimeter, limit our turnovers, and put ourselves in a position to get some good looks on the offensive end.”
Tip-off between the Lady Irish and Cowgirls is set for 6:00 at Chapman High School with the boys’ game to follow at 7:30.
For continuing coverage of all four programs throughout the postseason, stay tuned to the Salina Post.