Monarchs survive Panthers’ rally
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
HAYS – Great Bend’s amazing rally ended with a controversial play in a shocking 60-58 loss to Hays Thomas More Prep in Saturday’s Gerald Mitchell Hays Basketball Shootout.
The Panthers nearly erased a 56-50 deficit with an 8-4 rally at the finish. But the Panthers suffered tough luck when 6-foot-6 Stefan Spray leaped and was bumped after catching a half-court pass in the final seconds from Braylon Council. No foul was called despite the contact.
Carter Coombs hit a 3-pointer, Stefan Spray hit an inside basket after a Coombs steal and Council drilled a 3-pointer to get within 59-58. Monarch Bryce Seib converted a free throw for a 60-58 lead.
The Monarchs’ Gavin Unrein converted three free throws and Kenton Ginther, Harris and Seib each made one free throw in the final minute. The Panthers rally was made tougher when the Monarchs gathered two consecutive rebounds after missed free throws.
Both teams played loose with up-and-down play and excellent teamwork.
The Panthers converted an amazing 11 of 33 3-pointers to outscore the Monarchs 33-12 from long range. Placing in double figures were Coombs (15), Stefan Spray (14), Sage Koelsch (12) and Council (11).
Jace Wentling paced the Monarchs with 20 points and Unrein added 19 points.
Great Bend 16 13 15 14 – 58
Hays-TMP 19 12 11 18 – 60
GREAT BEND (0-3)—Coombs 4-11 3-5 15, Stefan Spray 5-9 2-2 14, Kolesch 4-8 2-3 12, Council 4-10 0-0 11, Joseph Moeder 3-4 0-0 6, Stuhlsatz 0-2 0-0 0, Maddox Spray 0-2 0-0 0, Mathew Moeder 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 20-48 3-5 58.
TMP (1-2)—Wentling 9-14 2-4 20, Unrein 7-8 5-7 18, Harris 2-3 1-2 6, Schwartz 1-2 0-0 3, Ginther 2-7 1-2 7, Seib 0-7 2-4 2, Rome 1-6 1-2 3, Totals 22-47 12-21 60
3-pointers—GB 11-33 (Coombs 4-11, Council 3-8, Koelsch 2-6, S. Spray 2-6, Stuhlsatz 0-1, M. Spray 0-1), TMP 4-9 (Unrein 2-6, Harris 1-1, Schwartz 1-1, Seib 0-1).
GERALD MITCHELL HAYS SHOOTOUT
THURSDAY—Lawrence Free State 62, Great Bend 35; Olathe West 60, Hugoton 37; Hays High 69, Hays-TMP 36
FRIDAY—Free State 75, Hays-TMP 23; Hugoton 62, Great Bend 57; Hays High 63, Olathe West 44
SATURDAY—1ST—Free State 45, Hays High 41, OT; 3RD—Olathe West 74, Hugoton 37; 5TH—Hays-TMP 60, Great Bend 58
