BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

The Great Bend Panthers followed the scouting report by basketball coach Kyle Kriegh to perfection for 26 minutes. Point guard Sage Koelsch played strong with the basketball and the Panthers played a patient, ball-control game.

The Panthers trailed Junction City 37-35 when Koelsch missed his second free throw attempt.

Junction City outscored the Panthers 13-1 for a deceptive 50-36 non-league basketball victory Friday. The Panthers had held the Bluejays to half of their 80-point average during the first 26 minutes.

The Bluejays started with a free throw when Terrance Tedder scored back-to-back layups off steals. Tedder scored on a breakaway layup and jumping jack Ismael Fadiguh punctuated the rally with his second slam dunk for a 46-35 lead.

The Panthers (0-4) finished with 21 turnovers against a lightning-quick ballclub. The Bluejays' terrific quickness and athleticism keyed the game-ending stretch. The Bluejays had 23 deflections and 15 steals for 12 points off turnovers.

"All five guys pressure as well as anybody," said Kriegh. 

Stefan Spray scored nine points and keyed a plus 7 rebounding advantage against an athletic team. Koelsch scored seven points and Carter Coombs added six points. The Panthers converted 12 of 43 field goals, 3 of 14 from 3-point range.

"We played with heart and determination. This game gives our team confidence," Kriegh said. "I told our guys to not worry what the final score looked like. No one gave us a chance. Our guys listened when we put our game plan together."  

Howard Johnson led the Bluejays (3-0) with 14 points and Tedder added 12 points. Seth Clark and Fadiguh each scored nine points. The Bluejays made 20 of 47 field goals, 3 of 14 from 3-point range.

The Panthers journey to Larned Tuesday.

Junction City 12 7 16 15 -- 50 

Great Bend 9 6 17 4 -- 36

JUNCTION CITY (3-0)--Johnson 5-15 24 14, Tedder 6-10 0-2 12, Clark 4-11 0-0 9, Fadiguh 3-6 3-5 9, Rowell 2-3 0-0 4, Butler-Lawson 0-1 2-2 2, Watts 0-1 0-0 0, Totals 20-47 7-13 50.

GREAT BEND (0-4)--Stefan Spray 3-6 3-4 9, Koelsch 2-11 3-6 7, Coombs 2-12 0-0 6, Joseph Moeder 2-8 0-0 4, Stuhlsatz 1-1 0-0 3, Mathew Moeder 1-1 1-1 3, Maddox Spray 0-0 2-2 2, Council 1-4 0-0 2, Totals 12-43 9-13 36.

3-pointers--JC 3-14 (Johnson 2-8, Clark 1-5, Watts 0-1), GB 3-14 (Coombs 2-9, Stuhlsatz 1-1, Koelsch 0-2, S. Spray 0-2)