By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HAYS – Great Bend’s basketball team played well enough defensively, but the lack of offense cost the Panthers in a 47-39 basketball loss Tuesday to rival Hays High.

Alex Schremmer scored 14 points and Trent Stueder and Payton Duvall each added seven points for the Panthers (5-11, 2-3 WAC). The loss drops the Panthers behind WAC leader Garden City (3-1) and Hays (3-2).

The Indians’ tandem of 6-7 Cade Swayne and 6-8 Dylan Ruder gave the Panthers trouble that helped force 14 Panther turnovers.

“Their length caused us problems where we’d normally finish some plays inside,” said Tim Brooks, Great Bend coach. “It was tough to get things moving offensively.”

Great Bend led early 8-3, but Hays built a 22-17 halftime lead keyed by an 11-0 run with eight players scoring. The Indians took control when the Panthers went scoreless for 61/2 minutes for a 37-27 lead as Great Bend missed 10 consecutive field goals.

Great Bend outscored the Indians 15-12 from 3-point range.

Hays High (8-7, 3-2 WAC) was paced by Tradgon McCrae with 15 points and T.J. Nunnery with 10 points. The Indians outscored the Panthers 9-4 from the free-throw line. Cade Swayne and Dalyn Schwarz converted fourth-quarter baskets to hold off the Panthers.

The Panthers played competitive on the defensive end.

“We got after it defensively,” Brooks said. “We gave ourselves a chance to win the game defensively.”

GREAT BEND (5-11, 2-3)—Schremmer 5 0-0 14, Duvall 3 0-2 7, Stueder 3 1-2 7, Wondra 2 1-1 5, Sam Ryan 0 2-2 2, Miller 1 0-0 2, Totals 15 4-10 39

HAYS HIGH (8-7, 3-2)—McCrae 4 6-7 15, Nunnery 4 1-2 10, Krannawitter 1 0-0 3, Johnson 1 0-0 2, Ruder 1 0-0 2, Meyers 2 0-0 5, Swayne 2 0-2 4, Schwarz 2 2-2 6, Totals 17 9-13 47

3-pointers—GB 5 (Schremmer 4, Duvall 1), HH 4 (Nunnery 1, McCrae 1, Meyers 1, Krannawitter 1)