BY JIM MISUNAS
LIBERAL – The Great Bend Panthers played with fire and enthusiasm on the longest road trip of the basketball season. Tim Brooks’ strategy of asking his players why they played the game of basketball nearly worked.
But Liberal used a second-half rally to edge the Panthers 54-50 Saturday after Great Bend led the second half. Liberal slowed the game after a 9-0 spurt on two scores by Malcomb Wiltshire and scores by Embry Williams and A.J. Ramirez netted baskets for a 44-39 lead.
The Redskins missed five throws in the final minutes. The Panthers missed a free throw, committed a turnover on a screen and missed a shot with a chance to make it a one-possession game.
“We played as well as we’ve played in a long time that first half,” said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. “I asked them why they play the game and they played for their teammates and families tonight. Our guys played with energy and pride.”
Sage Koelsch converted a pair of fourth-quarter 3-pointers and scored 15 points with outstanding ballhandling and passing. Stefan Spray scored 14 points and Cal Dunekack added nine points.
Liberal’s Williams scored 17 points and Wiltshire added 12 points. The Redskins converted 18 of 35 field goals and 10 of 15 free throws.
The only crack in the Panthers’ armor was Liberal’s 8 of 16 shooting from 3-point range. Williams nailed four 3-pointers with wide-open shots.
“We played good defense, other than them hitting some threes,” Brooks said.
Great Bend 16 9 14 11 – 50
Liberal 13 8 21 12 – 54
GREAT BEND (4-13, 0-6)—Koelsch 5-10 3-5 15, Stefan Spray 6-11 1-2 14, Council 0-1 0-0 0, Streck 2-7 0-0 5, Dunekack 4-9 0-0 9, Sam Hall 1-4 2-4 4, Mathew Moeder 1-1 1-1 3, Maddox Spray 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 19-44 7-12 50
LIBERAL (6-12, 2-4)—Williams 4-8 5-7 17, Wiltshire 4-5 2-4 12, Lopez 3-9 0-1 8, Ramirez 2-4 3-3 7, Kerr 3-5 0-0 6, Miller 1-1 0- 2, Garcia 1-2 0-0 2, Leewis 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 18-35 10-15 54
3-pointers—GB 5-16 (Koelsch 2-4, Dunekack 1-2, S. Spray 1-4, Streck 1-4, Council 0-1, M. Spray 0-1), Liberal 8 (Williams 4, Wiltshire 2, Logan 2)
