BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The biggest Great Bend home basketball game in 10 years lived up to its billing. 

The Panthers stormed into a first-place tie with a hard-fought 60-56 Western Athletic Conference victory over heated rival Hays High.

The final critical bounce went the Panthers' way when Peyton Duvall's game-sealing free throw popped out, then in for the decisive 4-point margin. 

Ray Kuhlman converted four free throws and Alex Schremmer added two free throws in the final final minute. They needed every point after a 50-38 lead narrowed to 50-47 when Jordan Dale hit a 3-pointer followed by two Dalyn Schwarz baskets and a Carson Kieffer score.

Schremmer passed to Alex Olivas for a Panthers ' 10th 3-pointer for a 53-47 lead.  

The Panthers (12-4, 4-1 WAC) move into a first-place tie with Hays High (9-4, 4-1 WAC). The Panthers are ranked fifth in the 5A West seedings with the top four teams earning homecourt substates.

"That was special. That's our biggest win of the year with what was at stake," said Great Bend coach Tim Brooks. "The guys showed up and played hard and tough. We did enough good things to win the game."  

A loud and appreciative home crowd roared from start to finish as Alex Schremmer and Dalton Miller started the fun with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 6-0 lead.

There were unsung heroes like Cal Dunekack with a varsity career high of 10 points and a pair of 3-pointers. Miller was spectacular with 13 points and lock-down defense on Indian standout T.J. Nunnery.

Dunekack inspired the bench brigade with a pair of 3-pointers and two more field goals. 

"Cal has developed toughness," Brooks said. "He was really good tonight. He can shoot the basketball really well."

Dunekack had made two varsity 3-pointers before Tuesday. 

"I was happy I was able to help my team, and I played really well tonight," Dunekack said. "I was fortunate to earn some good minutes tonight. Coach always had confidence and says if you're open, take the 3-point shot."

Miller was the Panthers' other two-way player with a key defensive assignment in addition to several steals and 13 points.

"Dalton did a fine job of guarding Nunnery and he takes what the defense will give him," Brooks said. 

It was truly a team effort as the Panthers outscored the Indians 30-18 from 3-point range. Dunekack, Duvall, Olivas and Schremmer converted two 3-pointers and Miller and Kuhlman each made one 3-pointer. 

The Indians' superior height inside was complimented by hard drives to the basket.  Carson Kieffer scored 15 points and 6-fot-6 Dalyn Schwarz added 12 points, several blocks and terrific rebounding. 

Hays High 9 11 14 22 — 56

Great Bend 14 12 16 18 — 60

HAYS HIGH (9-6, 4-1)—Kieffer 5-8 2-3 15, Schwarz 5-14 2-2 12, Krannawitter 2-5 0-0 4, Nunnery 2-6 1-4 5, Linenberger 2-3 0-0 4, Dale 3-7 0-0 8, Ruder 2-5 1-4 6, Lummus 1-2 0-2 2, Totals 22-50 6-13 56.

GREAT BEND (12-4, 4-1)—Miller 4-4 4-5 13, Schremmer 3-12 3-3 11, Dunekack 4-5 0-0 10, Olivas 2-6 2-2 8, Duvall 2-5 1-2 7, Hall 1-2 0-0 2, Sam Ryan 0-2 0-0 0, Kuhlman 1-3 4-4 7, Wondra 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 18-41 14-16 60..

3-pointers—HH 6-15 (Krannawitter 0-1, Kieffer 3-5, Nunnery 0-2, Dale 2-5, Ruder 1-1, Schwarz 0-1), GB 10-26 (Dunekack 2-2, Duvall 2-4, Olivas 2-6, Schremmer 2-8, Miller 1-1, Kuhlman 1-3, Ryan 0-2).

WAC BOYS

Great Bend 4-1 12-4

Hays High 4-1 9-6

Liberal 2-3 7-8

Garden City 1-3 8-7

Dodge City 1-4 4-12

TUESDAY—Great Bend 60, Hays High 56; Liberal at Guymon, Okla.; Hugoton 74, Garden City 67; Dodge City 63, Ulysses 50