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Panthers rout Buhler to kick off Salina Tournament
premer dunk
Great Bend Panther Ian Premer (14) dunks against Buhler in Thursday's Salina Basketball Invitational. - photo by JIM MISUNAS Great Bend Tribune

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

SALINA — Great Bend's Ian Premer put on his typical highlight-reel night with a smooth 20 points and a slam dunk in the Panthers 74-33 rout of Buhler to kick off the Salina Basketball Invitational.

What made Premer especially effective was his best passing of the season as he found teammates Maddox Spray and Carter Coombs for easy baskets. Premer soared in the air and bounced the basketball off Jeffrey Neill for a Crusader turnover for his best defensive play.

The Panthers followed Premer's lead by delivering their best offensive team performance of the season. The Panthers converted 21 of 30 first-half field goals (70%) and finished 33 of 51 from the field (65%). 

The Panthers led 13-8 when they reeled off 12 consecutive points for a 25-8 lead. By halftime, the Panthers led 45-17 off spectacular passing which led to red-hot shooting. 

Great Bend's defense was triggered by Premer in an effective half-court trapping defense. Buhler's stylish Jalen Crable was able to solve the Panthers' defensive riddle with 15 points and a trio of 3-pointers.

Great Bend (7-3) will be a challenge to beat when five players score in double figures. Every time the Panthers made an extra pass, they delivered a basket. Great Bend played with great pace, but great patience by handling the basketball effectively.

Carter Coombs was spectacular with a pair of 3-point bombs with 12 points and several perfect assists. Maddox Spray, Parker Dicks and Jacob Hall each chipped in 10 points as five starters hit double digits.

The tandem of Ben Nicholson and Izeah Reed each chipped in six points off the bench.

Buhler 4 6 6 10 — 33

Great Bend 21 24 18 11 — 74

BUHLER (1-6)—Crable 6-11 0-0 15, Heredia 2-5 0-0 4, Miller 1-3 2-2 4, McDaniel 1-5 2-2 5, Neill 1-1 1-1 3, Gilliam 1-6 0-2 2, Morrison 0-3 1-2 1, Totals 12-34 6-9 33.

GREAT BEND (7-3)—Premer 9-11 2-3 20, Coombs 5-6 0-0 12, Spray 4-6 2-4 10, Dicks 4-7 0-0 10, Hall 5-10 0-0 10, Nicholson 3-6 0-0 6, Reed 3-4 0-0 6, Kern 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 33-51 4-7 74.

3-pointers—B 3-12 (Crable 3-6, Heredia 0-3, McDaniel 0-3); GB 4-8 (Coombs 2-2, Dicks 2-5, Nicholson 0-1).

SALINA BOYS INVITATIONAL

FIRST ROUND—Abilene 65, Salina South 47; Wichita South 63, Liberal 39; Great Bend 74, Buhler 33; Andover High 69, Salina Central 53

1-19—SECOND ROUND—Abilene 8-0 vs. Wichita South 4-4, 7:30; Great Bend 7-3 vs. Andover 5-2, 4:30; Buhler 1-6 vs. Salina Central 2-5, 4:30; Salina South 0-7 vs. Liberal 3-6, 7:30

1-20—1ST—Abilene 9-0/Wichita South 5-4 winner vs. Great Bend 8-3/Andover 6-2 winner, 2:30 p.m.; 3RD—Abilene 8-1/Wichita South 4-5 loser vs. Great Bend 7-4/Andover 5-3 loser, 11:30 a.m.; 5TH—Buhler 2-6/Salina Central 3-5, winner vs. Salina South 1-7/Liberal 4-6 winner, :30 p.m.; 7TH—Buhler 1-7/Salina Central 2-6 loser vs. Salina South 0-8/Liberal 3-7 loser, 11:30 a.m.