BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
GARDEN CITY — Great Bend Panther Cooper Ohnmacht picked a perfect night for a career-best basketball game against Garden City.
Garden City erased a 41-28 lead with a shocking 14-0 scoring run for a 42-41 lead after five consecutive Panther turnovers. Kobe Rosales scored on a steal to cap 14 consecutive points in 21/2 minutes.
After an 18-point first half, Ohnmacht restored order with 34 points to ignite a dominating 28-6 finish for a 74-56 Western Athletic Conference basketball victory over the Buffaloes that ended a 4-game losing streak.
He converted pull-up jumpers, a trio of 3-pointers and drives to the basket. Ohnmacht showcased his athleticism on breathtaking mid-range jumpers, defying gravity like few other players.
The Buffaloes had no defensive answer for Ohnmacht, who broke a 42-42 tie with a 3-point play off a steal. Tavon Stroup converted a 3-pointer for a 43-36 lead after three quarters. Ohnmacht scored eight fourth-quarter points and Stroup added eight points in the game-deciding spurt.
Great Bend (5-4, 1-0 WAC) proved it could compete at a high level without injured all-stater Ian Premer (23 ppg) for its first win since Dec. 13. The Panthers played aggressive man-to-man defense and scored multiple transition points for the first time in weeks.
"Cooper's confidence kept building. He's a hard-working smart kid. It's a team effort that got Cooper open looks," said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. "We set good screens and ran our offense. We ran our offense and moved the basketball. These players know how to win, and are ultra competitive. We stuck together and played like we were behind."
In some respects, it was the best team basketball the Panthers have played all season. Jacob Hall hustled inside for 16 points and Stroup finished with eight points. Point guard Daxton Minton played his role perfectly, dishing off assists while being a defensive fly in Garden City's offensive ointment.
Garden City (6-4, 0-1 WAC) had the home crowd jumping. Leading scorer Daniel Monarrez scored eight points and Mackoy Hemmert converted a 3-pointer as the Buffaloes scored on six consecutive possessions.
The Panthers kept their poise despite Garden City's shocking third-quarter turnaround. Great Bend showed off a nice mix of perimeter shooting, drives to the basket and transition scores. However, the Panthers' free throw struggles continued with 8 of 18 shooting from a stripe that hasn't been charitable.
Monarrez scored 18 points and Jalen Jagels added 11 points. The Buffaloes showed ball-hawking defense during their 21/2-minute spurt.
"We had good team defense. We put our scouting report into action," Kriegh said. "Our man defense was really good."
GARDEN CITY GIRLS 67, PANTHERS 37 — Garden City's hot-shooting Mia Hannagan made sure Great Bend coach Jade Winter remembered her after hitting nine 3-pointers against the Panthers last season.
Hannagan missed her first six 3-pointers, giving the Panthers no reason to provide extra defensive attention. However, once Hannhan buried her first trifecta, it was game over. Hannagan hit three in a row and 6 of 9 by finding her rhythm off the right side of the Buffaloes' offense.
She finished with 24 points and Kya Korf added a trio of 3-pointers. Tegan Snodgrass scored 11 inside points. The Buffaloes converted 11 of 26 on 3-pointers to outscore the Panthers 33-15 from long range.
Great Bend scored eight second-chance points for a shocking 14-14 tie after one quarter. The Panthers made 6 of 18 field goals with three early turnovers.
Great Bend (2-7, 0-1 WAC) was led by hustling Meredith Mazouch with eight points and Alex Mayers and Alyssa McCauley with seven apiece. The Panthers' highest quality offensive rebounding led to 12 second-chance points in the first half. McCauley and Stevie Mayers each scored two baskets off offensive rebounds.
Great Bend's 41-36 aggressive rebounding advantage was offset by Garden City gaining 14 extra possessions with three turnovers compared to 17 by the Panthers. Garden City converted several turnovers into easy transition points.
The Buffaloes scored 33 perimeter points and 30 points inside the 3-point stripe. Great Bend made 14 of 53 field goals and 6 of 9 free throws.
Great Bend 18 17 18 21 — 74
Garden City 13 12 21 10 — 56
GREAT BEND (1-0, 5-4)—Ohnmacht 14-21 (3-4) 3-6 34, Jacob Hall 6-12 (1-4) 3-8 16, Stroup 3-6 (1-1) 1-2 8; Alec Premer 2-9 (1-4) 1-2 6, Price (0-1) 0-0 0, Wondra 3-5 0-0 6, Minton 2-6 (0-1) 0-0 4, Totals 30-60 (6-15) 8-18 74
GARDEN CITY (0-1, 6-4)—Monarrez 6-12 (3-6) 4-6 18; Rosales 1-4 (0-3) 0-0 2; Braden Jagels 2-7 (0-1) 1-2 5; Jalen Jagels 4-6 3-5 11; Hemmert 2-8 (1-3) 0-0 5; Strecker 3-6 (0-2) 0-0 6; Walter 1-5 (1-2) 0-0 3; Chairez (1-1) 0-0 3; Longa (1-1) 0-0 3; Totals 21-50 (6-18) 8-13 56
Great Bend 14 7 9 7 — 37
Garden City 14 20 20 13 — 67
GREAT BEND (0-1, 2-7)—Meredith Mazouch 2-9 (1-3) 3-4 8; Alex Mayers (2-6) 1-2 7; McCauley 3-10 (0-3) 1-1 7; Stevie Mayers 3-5 (0-1) 0-0 6; Ringo 2-10 (0-1) 1-2 5; Prendergast 1-6 0-0 2; Katherine Mazouch 1-5 0-0 2; Hogan 0-2 (0-1) 0-0 0; Totals 14-53 (5-13) 6-9 37
GARDEN CITY (1-0, 7-3)—Hannagan 8-17 (6-15) 2-2 24; Korf 4-8 (3-5) 0-0 11; Powers 4-10 (1-3) 0-0 9; Finch 0-3 (0-2) 0; McDonald 1-3 0-0 2; Doll 0-1 0-0 0; Meng 3-7 2-4 8; Celis 1-3 (0-1) 0-0 2; (3) 0-1 0-0 0; Totals 26-62 (11-26) 4-6 67
