Outside shooting sparks Panthers

BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

KINGMAN – One day after shooting 22% on 3-pointers, the Great Bend Panthers were smoking hot from long range.

Maddox Spray converted four 3-pointers to spark a barrage of 14 field goals from long range to ignite a 73-20 rout of Conway Springs at Thursday’s Kingman Basketball Classic. The Panthers play Wichita Sunrise for third place Saturday.

Everyone joined the fun. Braylon Council, Parker Dicks and Kendryk Turner each nailed a pair of 3-pointers. Ian Premer, Mr. Instant Offense, jump started the scoring burst with eight points in the first quarter.

Former Kingman basketball all-stater Mike Minton was treated to a lifelong memory when his son Dax Minton drilled a 3-pointer at his father’s hometown for his first varsity basket.

Great Bend’s accurate perimeter shooting was unbelievable.

“Maddox Spray was feeling it. Parker (Dicks) made a couple,” said Great Bend coach Kyle Kriegh. “That’s how we do it at practice every day. We had a lot guys contributing. That’s what you hope for as a coach.”

Turner worked as the basketball manager before joining the team.

“Everyone was super excited,” Kriegh said. “The scene In the locker room is something I’ll never forget.”

The Panthers led 45-11 at halftime fueled by 9-0 and 14-0 scoring runs that eventually ended as a 20-2 scoring streak for a 34-7 lead.

At one point, the Panthers converted seven consecutive 3-pointers. Spray hit a trio of shots, Council drilled a pair and Dicks and Jacob Hall converted one 3-pointer.

When the Panthers turned to the reserves, Minton, Turner and Carson Umphres answered the ball.

Great Bend’s defense was equally impressive, starting with a nice mix of pressure defense to start the ballgame. The Cardinals were never able to adjust to the Panthers’ pressure. Connor Rusco led Conway Springs with 10 points.

“Our focus was starting strong on the defensive end,” Kriegh said. “We held them to 11 points going to the fourth quarter. When your guys buy into playing defense, that’s fun.”

Conway Springs 5 6 0 9 – 20

Great Bend 18 27 13 15 – 73

CONWAY SPRINGS (2-1)—Rusco 3-4 4-9 10, Howard 2-9 0-1 4, Johnsen 2-5 0-0 4, Fisher 0-3 2-2 2, Howell 0-2 0-0 0, Robles 0-2 0-0 0, Whitney 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 7-26 6-12 20

GREAT BEND (1-2)—Spray 4-7 1-2 13, Premer 5-7 0-0 10, Dicks 3-5 0-0 8, Hall 3-5 0-0 7, Council 2-2 0-0 6, Nicholson 3-4 0-1 6, Turner 2-5 0-0 6, Scheuerman 2-4 0-0 4, Minton 1-3 0-0 3, Umphres 1-1 0-0 3, Coombs 1-6 0-0 3, Reed 1-1 0-0 2, Stuhlsatz 1-2 0-0 2, Totals 28-52 10-20 73

3-pointers—CS (); GB 14-23 (Spray 4-4, Council 2-2, Dicks 2-4, Turner 2-4, Umphres 1-1, Hall 1-1, Minton 1-2, Coombs 1-4, Nicholson 0-1)