BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
EMPORIA — The Emporia Spartans took advantage of Great Bend's first basketball game without all-stater Ian Premer, who missed Tuesday's game.
The unbeaten Spartans (6-0) outscored the Panthers 18-6 on 3-pointers for a comfortable 61-51 non-league basketball victory Tuesday.
Panther standout Jacob Hall performed at a high level in a solid 24-point night against Emporia's inside height. Hall was assessed two offensive fouls and the Panthers had four charging fouls. Hall's teammates finished 11 of 32 from the field (34%). Daxton Minton added 10 points.
Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh liked the fight and spirit of the Panthers, but needed better efficiency.
"We needed to defend the 3-pointer better and execute better at the offensive end," said Kriegh. "We were right there. We proved we have kids who can compete at a high level. Jake (Hall) is a stud, a blue-collar guy."
When Premer (23 ppg) played in five games, the Panthers averaged 69 ppg. Minus Premer's 23 point average, Great Bend managed 51 points, 18 below its season average. Great Bend nearly doubled its 36% free throw percentage from Saturday with 67% accuracy, but struggled from 3-point range with 3 of 16 shooting (17%).
The Panthers missed Premer's presence at both ends of the court.
"Ian (typically) has the ball in his hands. We were not in sync as much as we normally are," Kriegh said. "We've got to adjust to those things."
Emporia's Harrison Treic scored 19 points and Terrick Franklin (14) and Rylan Crowell (12) scored in double figures.
Crowell scored 12 first-quarter points as the Spartans started with a huge edge on perimeter shooting. The Spartans inside tandem of Terrick Franklin (14 points) and Chase Harrington (9) complimented the outside scoring with solid inside scoring without Premer's physical 6-6 presence in the paint.
The Panthers' defense rallied from a 9-0 deficit to limit the Spartans to three second-quarter field goals and a 23-22 deficit. Alec Premer and Minton scored the start the second half for a 26-23 lead.
Emporia outscored the Panthers 18-8 for a 41-34 lead after three quarters. Franklin's inside scoring preserved the Spartans' comfortable margin.
The Panthers (4-2) play their 2025-2026 home basketball opener Friday against Pratt.
EMPORIA GIRLS 49, PANTHERS 37 — Great Bend's Chayla Prendergast enjoyed a career best game with 13 points and 12 rebounds in a hard-fought 49-37 non-league basketball setback to Emporia.
The Spartans dominated the perimeter outscoring the Panthers 24-3 on eight 3-point goals. Leading scorer Jayde Aquirre and Kaylee DeWitt each converted a pair of early 3-pointers to spark the Spartans to a dominating 25-9 lead. Emporia scored in transition off Panther turnovers in addition to the perimeter scoring.
The Panthers rallied with a lightning fast 11-0 scoring run for a 25-20 score behind Prendergast's second-chance scoring. Alyssa McCauley hit a 3-pointer and dished an assist to Prendergast.
"We constantly have to dig ourselves out of holes," said Panther coach Jade Winter. "We moved the basketball better and made some shots in the second quarter. Chayla did a great job working inside and getting us rebound baskets."
Assists by Alex Mayers and McCauley fed baskets for Denver Ringo and Prendergast. McCauley and Prendergast scored for a 35-32 score. But Emporia's Kinsley Hines converted back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the Spartans' margin of victory.
Great Bend 11 11 12 17 — 51
Emporia 16 7 18 20 — 61
GREAT BEND (4-2)—Jacob Hall 10-17 (1-6) 3-5 24; Minton 3-8 (1-3) 3-4 10; Ohnmacht 3-10 (0-3) 0-0 6; Stroup 3-4 0-0 6; Alec Premer 2-7 (1-4) 0-0 5; Wondra 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 21-49 (3-16) 6-9 51
EMPORIA (6-0)—Treic 7-11 (2-6) 3-4 19; Franklin 7-9 0-3 14; Crowell 4-13 92-6) 2-2 12; Harrington 3-5 3-5 9; Seidl (2-6) 0-0 6; Bloomquist 0-2 0-0 0; Shively (0-3) 1-2 1; Totals 23-49 (6-21) 9-16 61
Great Bend 7 16 11 3 — 37
Emporia 16 13 9 11 — 49
GREAT BEND (1-5)—Prendergast 6 1-5 13; McCauley 2 (1) 1-2 6; Meredith Mazouch 2 2-4 6; Stevie Mayers 1 2-4 4; Alex Mayers 1 0-2 2; Ringo 1 0-0 2; Hogan 1 0-0 2; Umphres 1 0-0 2; Totals 15 (1) 6-17 37
EMPORIA (3-3)—Aquirre 5 (3) 2-2 15; Davis 5 1-4 11; DeWitt 4 (2) 1-2 11; Hines (3) 0-0 9; Wiltz 1 1-4 3; Totals 18 (8) 5-12 49
