The first of what would be 47 fouls was called in favor of Sweet Springs junior Stephanie Krause (left), with the Lady Chiefs' Lauren Aversman the recipient. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

CONCORDIA -- This is the tale of two teams.

Both of the girls' basketball squads which played the nightcap in Monday's opening round of the Class 2, District 8 Tournament at Concordia are very young, Sweet Springs with only one senior starter and Santa Fe with no upperclassmen on the roster. The slight edge in experience possessed by the Lady Greyhounds proved decisive in their 49-37 victory.

It was much closer most of the game -- even after Sweet Springs barged out to a 10-2 lead on a jumper from sophomore Kristin Jones, senior Laura Keesaer's lay-up, a three-pointer from sophomore Katie Davidson and junior Stephanie Krause's four free throws resulting from drives to the hoop.

"We've got three kids who can take the ball to the hole pretty darn well," noted Lady 'Hounds head coach Boyd Jones. "Our mistake is sometimes not doing that."

The Lady Chiefs' main weapon was junior forward Dani Heimsoth, who scored her club's first seven points. However, Heimsoth was in foul trouble throughout the contest and, although she finished, spent long stretches on the bench.

Without her, Santa Fe's offense lacked a focal point. Sophomore Lauren Aversman hit from the paint and Heimsoth and freshman Anna Sleeper made put-backs to close the gap to three points midway through the second period.

Sweet Springs added to its five-point halftime lead by scoring the first seven points of the second half, Keesaer with a bomb and follow shot.

After Krause penetrated to make it 30-20, the Lady 'Hounds went the remaining six minutes of the third quarter without a field goal.

Aversman attacked the bucket, took a steal coast to coast for a transition goal and converted junior Becca Woodson's feed into the low blocks as the Lady Chiefs got to within four points heading into the final frame.

Sweet Springs only had one fourth-quarter field goal, Davidson driving the lane through a gaping hole.

Instead, it was a steady procession to the charity stripe for the Lady 'Hounds, who hit 13 of 20 during the period -- and 23 of 36 for a game in which 47 fouls were called.

"They way the game progressed, you're going to have to make free throws," Jones said. "We've got some kids who can shoot them."

Heimsoth sank a freebie and a shot inside to make it 37-33 with four minutes remaining, but Sweet Springs came up with points on each of eight straight trips to the line to close out the win.

Santa Fe (8-16) finished the season with its sixth straight loss, despite Heimsoth's game-high 18 points, but should bring everybody back next year -- hopefully finding a reliable outside shooter by then, a zone-buster being the ingredient needed to improve its fine power game.

Krause had 14 points and Keesaer contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Lady 'Hounds (16-10), set to play Fayette in Wednesday's semifinal round.

Given the potential for both teams to improve, it wouldn't be a shock to see this match-up being for the title next season.