BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
NICKERSON – Nickerson knew all about Larned sharpshooters Chance Sanger and Brock Skelton.
Brayden Rupp transformed into the Indians’ well-kept secret with four 3-pointers and a career high 20 points to spark the Indians’ 50-39 non-league basketball victory Thursday.
Rupp crafted nine days of practice into building his confidence. He sank two first-half 3-pointers and keyed a 17-point Indian third period with two 3-pointers when the Panthers left him wide open.
“I was really surprised they left me wide open,” said Rupp. “I came in with a lot of confidence after practicing for nine days. I was feeling good shooting the ball tonight.”
Larned (4-2) was tied 16-16 at halftime in a sluggish first half.
Trent Fletcher ignited a key 11-0 run with a 3-point play. Rupp drilled a 3-pointer off a turnover. Fletcher added two free throws and Rupp drilled another 3-pointer for a 27-18 lead.
Larned ended the first half on Brock Skelton’s buzzer-beater and Chance Sanger hit the third-quarter buzzer for a 33-26 lead.
Nickerson’s Hunter Jones sparked the home crowd for a brief moment with a slam dunk off a steal to slice the lead to 33-28.
But Rupp worked loose underneath for a transition basket followed by scores by Mason Perez and 1 3-pointer by Skelton for a 40-28 lead.
The Indians converted 13 of 16 free throws to seal the victory.
“We’ve shot free throws well,” said Larned coach Jerrod Smith.
The Indians’ cat-quick zone defense shut down Hunter Jones to 2 of 11 shooting. Panther 6-7 Connor MacDonald scored 12 points.
But the Panthers missed their first 13 3-pointers before making a pair in the final minute. Nickerson converted 18 of 62 field goals.
“They didn’t shoot it very well. But Jones is a capable outside shooter who can get hot, but we did a great job,” Smith said. “We had to play zone. But we were active and we’re athletic. Our guys have a good eye for the basketball and we jump really well inside.”
Sanger added 10 points and Fletcher and Skelton scored nine apiece.
Larned 7 9 17 17 – 50
Nickerson 12 4 10 13 – 39
LARNED (4-2)— Rupp 6-15 4-7 20, Skelton 3-11 2-2 9, Sanger 5-11 0-0 10, Fletcher 1-5 7-7 9, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Perez 1-8 0-0 2, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 16-53 13-16 50.
NICKERSON (3-4)—Jones 2-11 0-0 4, MacDonald 6-11 0-0 12, Broomfield-Tate 4-9 0-0 8, Carpenter 0-2 0-0 0, Nisly 1-1 0-0 3, Peterson 3-7 0-0 6, Crossman 1-9 0-0 2, Tatro 1-2 1-2 4, Totals 18-62 1-2 39.
3-pointers—L 5-16 (Rupp 4-6, Sanger 0-2, Skelton 1-6, Perez 0-2), N 2-16 (Nisly 1-1, Tatro 1-2, Jones 0-6, Peterson 0-3, Broomfield-Tate 0-1, Crossman 0-2, Carpenter 0-1).
